Editing Waterfall (section)

=== Development and tourism ===
Waterfalls are often visited by people simply to see them. Hudson theorizes that they make good tourism sites because they are generally considered beautiful and are relatively uncommon.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal|last=Hudson|first=Brian J.|date=2006-03-01|title=Waterfalls, Tourism and Landscape|journal=Geography|volume=91|issue=1|pages=3–12|doi=10.1080/00167487.2006.12094145|issn=0016-7487}}</ref> Activities at waterfalls can include bathing, swimming, photography, [[rafting]], [[canyoning]], [[abseiling]], [[rock climbing]], and [[ice climbing]].{{Sfn|Hudson|2013b|p=358}} Waterfalls can also be sites for generating hydroelectric power and can hold good fishing opportunities.{{Sfn|Hudson|2013b|p=360}} Wealthy people were known to visit areas with features such as waterfalls at least as early as in [[Ancient Rome]] and [[Ancient China|China]]. However, many waterfalls were essentially inaccessible due to the treacherous terrain surrounding them until improvements began to be made such as paths to the falls, becoming common across the United Kingdom and America in the 1800s and continuing through the 1900s and into the 21st century. Remote waterfalls are now often visited by air travel.<ref name=":2" />

Human development has also threatened many waterfalls. For instance, the [[Guaíra Falls]], once one of the most powerful waterfalls in the world, were submerged in 1982 by a human-made dam, as were the [[Ripon Falls]] in 1952. Conversely, other waterfalls have seen significantly lower water levels as a result of diversion for [[hydroelectricity]], such as the [[Tyssestrengene]] in Norway.{{Sfn|Goudie|2020|p=60}} Development of the areas around falls as tourist attractions has also destroyed the natural scene around many of them.<ref name=":2" />

Waterfalls are included on thirty-eight [[World Heritage Site]]s{{Sfn|Goudie|2020|p=59}} and many others are protected by governments.{{Sfn|Hudson|2013b|p=361}}