What is the specific history of Huangguoshu Waterfall? What is the cause of Huangguoshu Waterfall?

Huangguoshu Waterfall belongs to the Pearl River system and is the largest first-level waterfall in the Huangguoshu Waterfall Group. It is 88 meters high, of which the main waterfall is 67 meters high and 101 meters wide, of which the main waterfall top is 83 meters wide. It is rated as the largest waterfall group in the world and is listed in the Guinness World Records. Today I will introduce the history and causes of Huangguoshu Waterfall, I hope you are interested.

Contents of this article

1. History of Huangguoshu Waterfall

2. What is the cause of Huangguoshu Waterfall?

3. What should you pay attention to when traveling to Huangguoshu Waterfall?

History of Huangguoshu Waterfall

Research shows that the box-shaped canyon in front of Huangguoshu Waterfall was originally a karst cave. Later, as the cave developed, the erosion of the water caused the cave roof to collapse, forming a waterfall. Therefore, the Huangguoshu Waterfall was formed by the collapse of the karst cave. Since the formation process of a waterfall is closely related to the development process of the river where the waterfall is located, the formation process of Huangguoshu Waterfall must be considered in conjunction with the evolutionary development history of Baishui River. In this way, the development process of Huangguoshu Waterfall can be roughly divided into seven stages: the former Dou period, the Zhedou period, the Laolongdong period, the Baishui River period, the Huangguoshu underground flow period, the Huangguoshu Waterfall period, and the modern cutting period. Its formation period began approximately in the Miocene of the Tertiary Period, 27 million to 10 million years ago, and has continued to this day, undergoing a cyclic evolution process from the surface to the underground and then back to the surface.

What is the cause of Huangguoshu Waterfall?

The origin of Huangguoshu Waterfall can be traced back to the Middle Triassic period more than 200 million years ago, when a thick set of carbonate rocks was deposited in the Huangguoshu area. Huangguoshu Waterfall was developed in a set of "medium-thick layers of Guanling 2nd Member of the Middle Triassic with a small amount of thin-layered dolomite limestone", located on the east wing of the Wengzhai small anticline.

The Baishui River during the formation of Huangguoshu Waterfall was an above-ground river that developed between 100,000 and 500,000 years ago, evolving from the "wide valley period" to the "canyon period" during the Middle and Late Pleistocene period of the Quaternary Period. Later, due to multiple intermittent uplifts of the earth's crust during the "Himalayan Movement", the river erosion base level dropped, resulting in the intensification of the river's erosion, dissolution and other downcutting effects, forming a "crack point" (i.e., the riverbed undergoes a major turning point due to the uplift of the earth's crust, the drop in the erosion base level, and the influence of structural and lithological factors).

The Baishui River first formed a karst erosion fissure-type sinkhole waterfall. Later, with the erosion, dissolution and lateral erosion of the river, the intermittent uplift of the earth's crust and the warm and humid climate in the late Pleistocene, the water dynamics gradually increased, and the roof of the sinkhole gradually collapsed. The Huangguoshu Waterfall finally appeared, with a history of 50,000 years.

What should you pay attention to when traveling to Huangguoshu Waterfall?

1. You need to bring an umbrella or raincoat when visiting Huangguoshu Waterfall, otherwise you will be soaked by the water.

2. In summer, the solar radiation is strong, so please prepare appropriate sun-proof clothing and hats.

3. The mountain roads in the scenic area are steep and dangerous. It is advisable to wear rubber or cloth shoes when touring the scenic area.

4. In spring and autumn, you need to prepare two more sets of warm clothing.

5. Prepare necessary medicines.

6. The terrain of the scenic area is complex, and there are many opportunities to climb and descend the mountain, so it is advisable to travel light when visiting.