What is Waterfall ?

A waterfall is a point in a river or stream where water flows over a vertical drop or a series of steep drops. Waterfalls also occur where meltwater drops over the edge of a tabular iceberg or ice shelf

Waterfalls can be formed in several ways, but the most common method of formation is that a river courses over a top layer of resistant bedrock before falling on to softer rock, which erodes faster, leading to an increasingly high fall. Waterfalls have been studied for their impact on species living in and around them.

Note – Candidates preparing for various Government exams such as SSC, RRB, Bank, etc. surely encounter 1 or 2 questions on the waterfalls in India because general awareness is a part of most of the government examinations.  

What are the Types of Waterfalls?

• Cataract: A large, powerful waterfall.
• Horsetail: Descending water maintains some contact with bedrock.
• Plunge: Water descends vertically, losing contact with the bedrock surface.
• Block: Water descends from a relatively wide stream or river.
• Multi-step: A series of waterfalls one after another of roughly the same size each with its own sunken plunge pool.
• Segmented: Distinctly separate flows of water form as it descends.
• Cascade: Water descends a series of rock steps.
• Punchbowl: Water descends in a constricted form and then spreads out in a wider pool.
• Tiered: Water drops in a series of distinct steps or falls.
• Fan: Water spreads horizontally as it descends while remaining in contact with bedrock.

Highest Waterfalls in India by Elevation

The table highlights the list of the top 50 highest waterfalls in India, their location, height, and the type or prominence they have