A subterranean waterfall, tierous waterfall, or underground waterfall is a waterfall located underground, usually in a cave or mine. They are a common feature in cave systems where there are vertical or near vertical geological structures for the weathering process to exploit, and sufficient gradient between the sink and the rising.[1][2] The highest known subterranean waterfall is in the Vrtoglavica Cave in Slovenia, with at least 400 metres (1,300 ft).[3]
Notable examples
[edit]| Name | Height | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vrtoglavica Cave waterfall[3] | 400 m (1,300 ft) | Plužna, Bovec 
|
Highest subterranean waterfall |
| Gaping Gill waterfall | 98 m (322 ft) | North Yorkshire, England 
|
Located in the Yorkshire Dales |
| Grotte aux Fées waterfall | 77 m (253 ft) | Saint-Maurice, Valais 
|
The highest waterfall in a show cave |
| Silver Falls | 64 m (210 ft) | Townsend, Tennessee 
|
Located in the Tuckaleechee Caverns |
| Ruby Falls[4] | 44 m (144 ft) | Chattanooga, Tennessee
|
|
| Lacy Suicide Falls | 42 m (138 ft) | Cass, West Virginia
|
Located in the Cass Cave |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Kevin Adams (1 June 2002). Waterfalls of Virginia and West Virginia: A Hiking and Photography Guide. Menasha Ridge Press. p. 32. ISBN 978-0-89732-414-4.
- ^ Waltham, Tony; Murphy, Phil (2013). Waltham, Tony; Lowe, Dave (eds.). Caves and Karst of the Yorkshire Dales. Buxton: British Cave Research Association. p. 136. ISBN 978-0900265-46-4.
- ^ a b Pavils, Gatis (7 March 2013). "Vrtiglavica Cave and Waterfall". Wondermondo. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
- ^ "Tennessee's Spectacular Underground Waterfall". The Weather Channel. 21 March 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
External links
[edit]
Media related to Subterranean waterfalls at Wikimedia Commons