The Bridal Veil Falls are a waterfall fed by a tributary of the Sabie River, in the South African province of Mpumalanga.
The Bridal Veil Falls cover a vertical drop of about 70 meters and are located about 6 km west of the city of Sabie on the Sabie Waterfall Route. This forms part of the touristic panorama route R532.
The winds that are always blowing here form a fine mist. This gives the appearance of a fine bridal veil. Therefore, probably the naming comes.
Waterfall:
A waterfall is the section of a river (stream, creek), where the flow, at least partially, passes into free fall due to the formation of the rock surface.
Here, the classic free, vertical crash rather the exception. In most cases, there are sliding sections in the fall section, which are often transformed into stepped steps by forming water holes. Depending on the steepness of the valley, step-like cascades or extensive sequences of several waterfalls may result.
A waterfall is a place of particularly active natural phenomena. Depending on its size, the water affects its environment differently. The natural occurrence of falling water is primarily the subject of research in physics (e.g. fluid mechanics) and also in hydrology. The formation history so the changes of the waterfall over time and their regularities, are the subject of geomorphology.
Typical features:
● Significantly increased gradient
● Disintegration of the water body and its partial detachment from the subsurface
● Spray and white water are predominant
● Characteristic noise
● A microclimatic environment of its own character
Different zones:
● Start of the fall section:
Transition area to the actual waterfall.
● Head zone:
The area of the waterfall above the fall zone, where the water passes from flowing to falling.
● Fall zone:
Area of the waterfall between the head and the impact zone, where the water either falls freely or cascades.
● Impact zone:
Area of the waterfall below the fall zone, where the water bounces and collects again to a body of water.
● Plunge pool:
Mostly existing tamping basin in the impact zone of the waterfall with severe deep erosion.
● Outflow of the fall section
Transition area to the normal watercourse, rapids-like with small water filled wells.
Term and demarcation:
● If the altitude is too low, this is called cataract.
● If the gradient is too low, this is called rapids.
● If the water supply is too low, drop glands or trickle falls.
Formation and types:
In general, flowing waters tend to reduce slope fractures and to form a balanced longitudinal profile through retrograde erosion and through its towing cargo (transport of sand, gravel, etc.). This tendency is opposed to the formation of waterfalls, so that fall steps form and maintain only in special circumstances. There are two main types of case levels:
● Case steps that are conditional or significantly influenced by the flow dynamics of the water body itself.
● Case levels that are already given without significant input of the watercourse.
There are many transitional and mixed forms between these types. For example, glacially embossed relief often has rounded longitudinal profiles of steep grades. Hanging valleys (side valley, which opens high above the bottom of a glacier-shaped trough valley) can gradually merge into the wall of a trough valley and this in turn into the broad valley floor. The outflow of the fall section leads only in the course of further deformation by the waterfall to a pronounced baffle zone or to a cascade-like sequence of steps in the head zone of the case.
Ecological aspects:
Waterfalls are an obstacle for upstream fish species, which can be overcome by adapted species (e.g. salmon). To overcome smaller, especially artificially created, waterfalls and barrages fish stairs are built in some places.
Illustration:
Sources:
Own knowledge
Visit on site
Wikipedia
To log this Earth cache please follow the steps below:
- Post a picture of yourself or your team with GPS in front of the waterfall (with your log).
Please email the following questions directly to me through the GC.com website. Please DO NOT enter your answers in your log.
- Describe the rock wall in front of you (color, texture and formation).
- Estimate the diameter of the plunge pool.
- How many geological erosions in arch form are visible on the rock face.
You can send your log without waiting for a confirmation. If there is a problem with your answers, I will contact you. Logs will be deleted if no answers are submitted within 5 days.
