Concept in Definition ABC

The name of cataract is used to designate those accidents characterized by the abrupt fall or jump of a mass of Water in a certain territory. This abrupt fall has as a consequence the permanent formation of a species abundant rain of water that falls from a higher height to a lower one. Normally, the falls can vary in numerous elements such as the height of the fall, the intensity of the water, the amount of water that falls, the succession of several falls or not, etc. Without a doubt, the falls are considered one of the most beautiful and captivating natural phenomena that nature offers to human beings.

Cataracts (also known as waterfalls when they are less important or weaker) represent a permanent waterfall that generates a constant flow of water from a higher height to another lower. This occurs through the presence of mobile water courses such as rivers or streams that are constantly movement and that they regenerate with the contribution of rain or the melting of glaciers (in the case of waterfalls that are near mountains).

Generally, the cause of the formation of a cataract has to do with an extremely slow erosion process that can take thousands of years. The best-known waterfalls are the result of erosion caused by the moving water course that is more or less endurance in the rock (then varying the intensity of the fall according to whether its erosive power is deeper or not). Although at first glance it seems that the water falls with force on the lower bed, the truth is that from the moment the water begins to descend it loses part of its strength when it meets the resistance of the air. However, for humans, their strength is still very important and this can cause severe incidents for those who are too close to the fall.

Among the most important, impressive and famous waterfalls in the world we must mention the Angel Falls (in Venezuela), the Hannoki (Japan), those of Niagara (in North America, between the United States and Canada), the Rhine (in Switzerland), the Victoria (shared by Zimbabwe and Zambia), the Tequendama (in Colombia) and the Iguazú (between Argentina and Brazil).