Rivers of Water | The power of water
The power of water
Where does a river's energy come from? The elevation of the land triggers its push, even in areas where the slope is gentle. The speed and volume of a river descending a steep slope can reshape Earth's surface, picking up soil and rocky debris and then dropping it when the water slows down and loses some of its energy. Rivers have gouged out canyons, built mud and stone landforms, and sculpted solid rock into pillars and arches.
An example of how powerful a river's force can be is the Niagara River, which runs through Canada and the United States. As it courses downslope on its 35-mile (56-kilometer) trail, the water pounds everything along its way. The cliff that creates its falls is a ridge made of dolomite, a very tough limestone. The river has worn down the ridge's overlying rock, creating a lower area that focuses the fall of the water.
In the following two experiments, you will explore ways that...
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