Extreme Earth: Waterfalls

Waterfalls Patricia Corrigan Foreword by Geoffrey H. Nash, Geologist In grateful appreciation of all the workers in state and national parks, forests, and protected scenic areas all over the world who make it possible for the rest of us to understand and treasure the importance of wilderness GGG Waterfalls Copyright © 2007 by Patricia Corrigan All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher. For information contact: Chelsea House An imprint of Infobase Publishing 132 West 31st Street New York NY 10001 ISBN-10: 0-8160-6436-9 ISBN-13: 978-0-8160-6436-6 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Corrigan, Patricia, 1948–   Waterfalls / Patricia Corrigan.    p. cm. — (The extreme earth)   Includes bibliographical references and index.   ISBN 0-8160-6436-9   1. Waterfalls. 2. Folklore—Saparagamuve (Sri Lanka) I. Title. II. Series.   GB1403.2C66 2006   551.48’4—dc22   2006001829 Chelsea House books are available at special discounts when purchased in bulk quantities for businesses, associations, institutions, or sales promotions. Please call our Special Sales Department in New York at (212) 967-8800 or (800) 322-8755. You can find Chelsea House on the World Wide Web at http://www.chelseahouse.com Text design by Erika K. Arroyo Cover design by Dorothy M. Preston/Salvatore Luongo Illustrations by Melissa Ericksen and Dale Dyer Photo research by Diane K. French Printed in the United States of America VB SG 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 This book is printed on acid-free paper. Contents GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG Foreword by Geoffrey H. Nash Preface Acknowledgments Introduction Origin of the Landform: Waterfalls How Waterfalls Form Waterfalls and Rivers The Water Cycle Waterfalls and Power Plants Waterfall Terminology 1G Angel Falls, South America Tabletop Mountains Devil’s Canyon Formation of the Tepuís Caves of the Tepuís Early Studies of the Tepuís Naming Rights Flora and Fauna of the Tepuís Canaima National Park In the Field: Improving Conservation Efforts The Future of Angel Falls 2G Victoria Falls, Africa The Many Names of the Falls Formation of the Falls David Livingstone Previous Falls Fans of the Falls vii ix xi xii 1 1 2 4 5 6 9 10 12 12 13 15 16 16 17 17 18 19 21 21 22 23 24 Victoria Falls National Park Human Population at Victoria Falls Fauna at Victoria Falls The Zambezi River Festival on the River In the Field: Lighting Victoria Falls An Economic Boon 25 26 26 27 28 28 29 3 G Yosemite Falls, North America 30 4G Gavarnie Falls, Western Europe 44 5G Niagara Falls, North America 55 Yosemite Creek Hanging Valley Yosemite Valley Rock Formations About Granite The Sierra Nevada Shrinking Glaciers Yosemite National Park Donner Pass An Abundance of Waterfalls Early Residents Flora and Fauna Ecological Challenges In the Field: Rockfalls In the Field: Wilderness Interrupted The Legacy of Yosemite The Cirque Ice Caves of Gavarnie The Pyrenees Geologic Makeup Mountain Streams Pic du Midi Observatory Climate Pyrenees National Park Flora and Fauna Hautes-Pyrénées Human History In the Field: Stream Ecology Melting Glaciers The Color of Water 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 37 38 40 40 41 41 42 43 44 46 47 48 49 50 51 51 52 52 52 53 54 57 History of Niagara Falls Daredevils Past and Present The Great Lakes The Niagara River The Wisconsinan Glacial Stage The Original Falls Niagara Gorge A Dramatic Turn Niagara’s Rapids The Future of Niagara Falls Slowing Erosion Early Efforts to Harness the River Rockfalls Nikola Tesla Ice Jams In the Field