Morphology of waterfalls and positioning of their elements within high precision geodetic measurements

The Catalogue of Bulgarian Waterfalls Program encountered some unclearness concerning the classification of waterfalls and the diagnosis of their elements. To achieve a more precise definition of the lip and toe sections of each waterfall, as these aspects require geodetic measurements, clarification of terminology and field observations are necessary. The survey focused exclusively on waterfalls in a strict sense, as including cascades and rapids, which also occur at stream knickpoints, would broaden the scope of the investigation. As natural processes of waterfall recession lead to the formation of ramps, many developed stepped waterfalls resemble cascades. This study proposes specific criteria for their identification in the field. Additionally, constructive waterfalls are of significant interest from a geoheritage perspective, and their unique characteristics were also addressed in this research.