Waterfall types, explained

Geographers classify waterfalls by how the water descends. Browse each form to see documented examples and learn what sets a plunge apart from a horsetail or a cascade.

Cascade

82 waterfalls · Water tumbles down a staircase of rock steps rather than a single drop.

Plunge

80 waterfalls · Water drops vertically and loses contact with the bedrock behind it.

Tiered

52 waterfalls · Two or more distinct drops in a clear, separated sequence.

Block

28 waterfalls · Water descends in a wide sheet that spans most of the watercourse.

Horsetail

23 waterfalls · Water descends steeply while keeping some contact with the rock face.

Segmented

13 waterfalls · The flow splits into two or more parallel channels as it falls.

Fan

9 waterfalls · Water spreads out horizontally as it descends, widening like a fan.

Punchbowl

6 waterfalls · Water is forced through a narrow constriction into a wide pool below.