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GCSE Geography · key term
A narrow, steep-sided valley, which can be left behind as a waterfall retreats upstream.
Used by AQA, Edexcel and OCR
Specification 3.1.3.3 · Paper 1
A narrow valley with steep sides, which can be left behind as a waterfall retreats upstream.
Revise: River Landforms in the UKUndercutting and collapse repeat, moving the waterfall upstream. This retreat leaves a narrow, steep-sided gorge downstream of the waterfall’s new position.
Specification 1.8 · Paper 1
For waterfalls, link undercutting and collapse to upstream retreat; the gorge is left behind by that retreat.
For an explanation, link the process to the resulting shape: erosion of softer rock → undercutting → collapse → waterfall retreat and gorge formation.
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A narrow, steep-sided valley; one way it forms is through the upstream retreat of a waterfall.
Repeated undercutting and collapse move the waterfall upstream, leaving a narrow, steep-sided gorge downstream. The waterfall and gorge are therefore connected stages of the same process: the gorge marks the route along which the waterfall has retreated.
Specification 3.2a, 3.2b · Paper 1, Paper 3
A narrow, steep-sided valley, which can form as a waterfall retreats upstream.
Revise: River Landforms: Erosional and Depositional FeaturesThe position of the waterfall therefore moves upstream. Its retreat leaves a narrow, steep-sided gorge downstream. The waterfall and gorge are connected landforms: the gorge records the route along which the waterfall has retreated.