Characteristics of a gorge include:

• very narrow valley
• very steep, high valley sides is
• located immediately downstream of a waterfall
• river channel takes up most, if not all, of the valley floor
• boulders litter the river bed
• turbulent, fast-flowing whitewater

Find out more about the landforms of erosion in the upper course of a river.

Rapids are fast flowing, turbulent sections of the river where the bed has a relatively steep gradient. They are found in the upper course of the river.

Find out more about the landforms of erosion in the upper course of a river.

Formation of a waterfall

Find out more about the landforms of erosion in the upper course of a river.

Waterfalls and gorges are typically found in the upper course of the river.

Find out more about the landforms of erosion in the upper course of a river.

A waterfall is a step in the long profile of the valley. It is where water falls down the vertical drop in the channel usually from a considerable height.

Find out more about the landforms of erosion in the upper course of a river.