Describe the formation of a waterfall

Waterfalls are formed over areas where hard rock lays over soft rock. When the river flows over soft rock, it erodes the soft rock away, which begins to undercut the hard rock which lays above. As the hard rock falls, it drops into a plunge pool below, which gets deeper and wider by the process of abrasion (the fallen rock erodes away the sides of the plunge pool). This process continues, demonstrating the retreat of the waterfall upstream as hard rock is continually undercut, becoming unstable, and falls into the pool below. 

SW
Answered by Sophie W. Geography tutor

7015 Views

See similar Geography A Level tutors

Related Geography A Level answers

All answers ▸

What influence does global migration have on the sovereignty of a state?


Evaluate how plate tectonics theory helps our understanding of the distribution of seismic and volcanic events (40 Marks)


Using named examples, assess the advantages and disadvantages of top-down and bottom-up development strategies. (15)


What is GDP per capita, what are two advantages and disadvantages of using it to measure and compare development?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning