The word cataract is Greek for break, and defines a large water jump. Cataracts occur when the current of a river drops abruptly and nearly vertically. The term "cataract" is reserved for cases in which large volumes of water rush, when the flow is less than is called "cascades." Among the most common causes in the formation of the falls is the detachment of the soft beds of the rivers, which are eroding rapidly, causing the jump. Among the falls are the most important matches in the Zambezi River in Africa. In America highlights the Niagara and Falls. The Niagara Falls are two: the U.S., almost straight, and horseshoe-shaped Canadian. The Iguazu River, which forms the border between Argentina and Brazil, is one of the world's mighty cataracts.
The largest waterfall is the Khone, Laos (Southeast Asia). It has a flow of 11,600 cubic meters per second.
The highest waterfall is the Angel in Venezuela, with 972 meters high.