fall line
Gravity's chosen route
The fall line is where a river drops from higher to lower terrain, often marked by rapids or waterfalls.
In eastern North America, the Fall Line is a geological boundary where the Piedmont meets the coastal plain—cities like Richmond and Philadelphia grew at these points where boats could go no farther upstream.
In skiing, the fall line is the steepest path down a slope, the route a ball would naturally roll: Point your skis down the fall line.
Steep slope dividing elevations
- piedmontTerrain at mountain base
- coastal plainFlat terrain bordering ocean
- rapidsTurbulent river section
- riversFlowing bodies of water
erosion · bedrock · outcrop · terrain · topography · watershed · sedimentary · plateau
escarpment
Steep slope dividing elevations
- piedmontTerrain at mountain base
- coastal plainFlat terrain bordering ocean
- rapidsTurbulent river section
rivers · erosion · bedrock · outcrop · terrain · topography · watershed · sedimentary · plateau · fault
downhill
Toward the bottom
steepness · alpine · slalom · gates · course · race · speed · tuck · carving · pitch
- fashionfashion, clothing, apparel, attire, garment
- skiingskiing, ski, ski resort, ski slope, ski slopes
- Eastern U.S.Appalachians, Blue Ridge Mountains, Chesapeake Bay, Atlantic coast, Piedmont
- Seasonal Merchandiseholiday decor, Christmas ornaments, Easter baskets, holiday baking, pumpkin spice
- ski schoolski lessons, ski instructor, ski instructors, ski school, beginner lessons
- slopesslope, incline, slopes, inclines, grade
fall linetraverse
Move across an area
sideslip · diagonal line · contour line · sidestepping · sidehill
fall linezigzag
Angled back-and-forth path
switchback · snowplow · controlled descent · runout · flat terrain
fall, line, fell, falling, falls, downfall, waterfall, pitfall, windfall