Fall Creek Falls State Park
| Fall Creek Falls State Park | |
|---|---|
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| Type | Tennessee State Park |
| Location | Bledsoe and Van Buren counties |
| Coordinates | 35°39′44″N 85°20′59″W / 35.66211°N 85.34978°WCoordinates: 35°39′44″N 85°20′59″W / 35.66211°N 85.34978°W |
| Area | 26,000 acres (110 km2) |
| Created | 1935 |
| Operated by | Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation |
| Open | Year round |
Fall Creek Falls State Resort Park is a state park in Van Buren and Bledsoe counties, in the U. S. state of Tennessee. The over 26,000-acre (110 km2) park is centered on the upper Cane Creek Gorge, an area known for its unique geological formations and scenic waterfalls. The park's namesake is the 256-foot (78 m) Fall Creek Falls, the highest free-fall waterfall east of the Mississippi River.
The Cane Creek Gorge presents as a large gash in the western edge of the Cumberland Plateau, stretching for some 15 miles (24 km) from the Cane Creek Cascades to Cane Creek's mouth along the Caney Fork. Cane Creek rises atop Little Mountain — which lines the plateau's eastern edge above Sequatchie Valley — and winds northward across the plateau.
Just beyond its source, Cane Creek slowly gains strength as it absorbs Meadow Creek and several smaller streams. As the creek enters the gorge, it drops several hundred feet in less than a mile, including 45 feet (14 m) over Cane Creek Cascades and 85 feet (26 m) over Cane Creek Falls. A few hundred meters north of Cane Creek Falls, Rockhouse Creek spills 125 feet (38 m) over a plunge waterfall into the same plungepool. Over the next half-mile, Cane Creek absorbs Fall Creek and Piney Creek, both of which enter from smaller gorges to the immediate west. During this stretch, part of the creek disappears underground into limestone sinks, and reemerges at a spring known as "Crusher Hole." Cane Creek continues to lose elevation before steadying near its confluence with Dry Fork. Beyond Dry Fork, the creek gradually descends to the Highland Rim, where it empties into the Caney Fork.
The man-made Fall Creek Falls Lake, controlled by a dam, assures continuing flow of water to Fall Creek Falls. The lake dominates the park's southern section.
Along with waterfalls and overlooks, this state park has more caves than any other park in the eastern U.S., except for Mammoth Cave National Park. All Park caves are currently closed in an effort to prevent the spread of White Nose Syndrome (WNS) in bats.
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Wikipedia