Blackwater Canyon
Blackwater Canyon is a rugged, heavily wooded, eight-mile (13 km) long gorge carved by the Blackwater River in the Allegheny Mountains of eastern West Virginia, USA. For many years, it has been the object of controversy as environmental activists have contended with industrial (power, timber, development) interests over its ultimate status.
The Canyon extends from the foot of Blackwater Falls, near the town of Davis, to the confluence of the Blackwater River with Dry Fork (forming the Black Fork), near the town of Hendricks. It is a 1,000-foot (300 m) deep chasm separating Backbone Mountain (to the northwest) from Canaan Mountain (to the southeast). Over its entire course, from falls (3,000 ft/915 m) to confluence (1,750 ft/534 m), the river drops about 1,250 feet (380 m) in elevation. (This affords kayakers a whitewater river with Class IV-V+ [upper Blackwater] and Class III-IV [lower Blackwater] rapids). Tributary streams — notably Pendleton Creek and Shay's Run — have formed hanging valleys high above the Canyon floor.
The land embracing the Canyon represents about 6,000 acres (24 km2) of spruce, hemlock and pine upland, second-growth forest. Oak, maple, yellow poplar, and rhododendron also predominate. Black bear inhabit the Canyon, along with white-tail deer, squirrel, and numerous bird species. The Canyon accommodates numbers of timber rattlesnake dens. Wildflowers (soapwort, jewelweed) abound.
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