Editing Cliff (section)

{{Short description|Tall, near vertical rock face}}
{{Hatnote group|
{{Redirect|Precipice}}
{{Redirect-distinguish|Rockface|Rockface (TV series){{!}}''Rockface'' (TV series)}}
{{Other uses|Cliff (disambiguation)}}
}}
[[File: White Cliffs of Dover 02.JPG|thumb|The [[White Cliffs of Dover]]]] 
[[File:Trango Towers 2.jpg|upright|thumb|The [[Trango Towers]] in Pakistan. Their vertical faces are the world's tallest cliffs. Trango Tower center; Trango Monk center left; Trango II far left; Great Trango right.]]
[[File: Troll Wall in shadow.jpg|upright|thumb|Europe's highest cliff, [[Troll Wall]] in Norway, a famous [[BASE jumping]] location for jumpers from around the world.]]

In geography and geology, a '''cliff''' or '''rock face''' is an area of [[Rock (geology)|rock]] which has a general angle defined by the vertical, or nearly vertical. Cliffs are formed by the processes of [[weathering]] and [[erosion]], with the effect of [[gravity]]. Cliffs are common on coasts, in mountainous areas, [[escarpment]]s and along rivers. Cliffs are usually composed of rock that is resistant to weathering and erosion. The [[sedimentary rock]]s that are most likely to form cliffs include [[sandstone]], [[limestone]], [[chalk]], and [[Dolomite (rock)|dolomite]]. [[Igneous rock]]s such as [[granite]] and [[basalt]] also often form cliffs.

An [[escarpment]] (or scarp) is a type of cliff formed by the movement of a [[geologic fault]], a landslide, or sometimes by rock slides or falling rocks which change the differential erosion of the rock layers.

Most cliffs have some form of [[scree]] slope at their base.  In arid areas or under high cliffs, they are generally exposed jumbles of fallen rock. In areas of higher moisture, a soil slope may obscure the [[Scree|talus]]. Many cliffs also feature tributary waterfalls or [[rock shelter]]s. Sometimes a cliff peters out at the end of a ridge, with [[mushroom rock]]s or other types of rock columns remaining. Coastal erosion may lead to the formation of sea cliffs along a receding coastline.

The British [[Ordnance Survey]] distinguishes between cliffs (continuous line along the topper edge with projections down the face) and outcrops (continuous lines along lower edge).

[[File:Northern Areas 40.jpg|thumb|The far southwestern aspect of [[Nanga Parbat]]'s Rupal face, highest cliff (rock wall/mountain face) in the world. The steepest part of the face is 2 km to the northeast. Cliffs are very common in areas where there are river banks and oceans.]]