Trickling, Misting, Spraying, Cascading, Plunging . . .
Have we got Waterfalls!
The Columbia River Gorge is famous for its falls – 77 on the Oregon side alone, the largest concentration in North America. They come in all shapes and sizes. Waterfall watchers classify them into eight forms – plunge, horsetail, fan, cascade, punchbowl, block, tier and segmented. You can see examples of most of these waterfall shapes on your tour of the Columbia River Gorge & Historic Columbia River Highway . . .
The Columbia River Gorge is famous for its falls – 77 on the Oregon side alone, the largest concentration in North America. They come in all shapes and sizes. Waterfall watchers classify them into eight forms – plunge, horsetail, fan, cascade, punchbowl, block, tier and segmented. You can see examples of most of these waterfall shapes on your tour of the Columbia River Gorge & Historic Columbia River Highway . . .
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A CASCADE tumbles along a series of rock steps. You’ll find a fine model by following the trailhead to upper Multmomah Falls, near the junction with Wahkeena Trail, #420, and Shepperd's Dell (right)
Image: Author: King of Hearts |
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A PLUNGE drops vertically and away from the Cliffside, losing contact with bedrock. Multnomah Falls (left) is a classic example and so is Latourell falls & Upper Latourell Falls and Metlako Falls in the Eagle Creek area.
Attribution: Gary Halvorson, Oregon State Archives |
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A BLOCK pours over a wide section of a stream. Wahkeena (middle of image below, behind bridge) and Dutchman Falls (right) along Multnomah Creek are a block shape.
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A TIER falls, then falls, then falls again. It has several “tiers” – separate falls that can all be viewed all at once. Wahkeena (left) is tiered as well as Bridal Veil (tiered horsetail), & Multnomah (tiered plunge)
Image: Author: Another Believer |
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A HORSETAIL looks just like a horsetail. Dropping vertically, it maintains contact with bedrock. Oneanta and Horsetail Falls (right) are good examples, as well as Bridal Veil (tiered horsetail).
Image: Author: Mike Fisher |
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PUNCHBOWLS pour out of a narrow opening in the stream and into a pool. Ponytail Falls* above Horsetail falls and Punchbowl Falls (left) on Eagle Creek Trail features a viewpoint and bench, the perfect rest stop.
"Punchbowl Falls" by darekfarmer is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 *Advance notice is required to see Ponytail Falls. |
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A FAN descends from a stream above and is similar to a horsetail but it gets broader or “fans out’ at the bottom. Fairy Falls (right) above Wahkeena Falls is a good example.
"Fairy Falls in Oregon by Michael Matti" by Michael Matti is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0 |
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SEGMENTS separate into several parts. Triple Falls (left) above Horsetail Falls is an example.
"Triple Falls" by mph is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 |
