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What is a waterfall lip?

GeographyWaterfalls

Quick Answer

A waterfall lip is the edge over which the river plunges, often where the bedrock is hardest or most resistant to erosion.

The Full Story

The lip is the break in slope at the top of a waterfall, and it strongly influences the shape of the fall. Hard rock layers can protect the lip, while softer layers below erode more quickly, causing undercutting and eventual collapse. This process often makes waterfalls retreat upstream over long periods. The exact shape of the lip can determine whether a waterfall spreads into a curtain, a single chute, or several channels.

Key Facts

1.The lip is the edge at the top of a waterfall
2.Harder rock can protect the lip from erosion
3.Undercutting can cause waterfall retreat

YouTube Angle

Suggested video title for this topic:

"The tiny edge that decides how a waterfall falls"