Great Falls of the Potomac River
The Great Falls of the Potomac River is on the Fall Line , approximately 14 miles upstream of Washington, DC on the Potomac River . The Great Falls area is popular for kayaking , white water rafting , climbing , hiking, and other outdoor sports. The Great Falls Park , which the National Park Service is operated, is located on the southern banks in Virginia, while the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Park is located along the northern shore of Maryland. The Billy Goat Trail on Bear Island, accessible from Maryland, offers beautiful views over the Great Falls, as well as the viewing platforms on Olmsted Island (also accessible from Maryland) and lookout points on Virginia's side.
The Great Falls of the Potomac formed from the Potomac River about 35,000 years ago. The river's waters gather speed as it pushes through the Mather Gorge River and cascades over a series of 6 meter high falls. Overall, the water falls 23 meters in less than a mile (1.6 km) away, making the Great Falls of the Potomac the steepest and most spectacular rapids of any river in the eastern United States .
Further information
Web links
- National Park Service: Great Falls Visitor Center - C&O Canal
- National Park Service: Great Falls Park (official site; English)
- GreatFalls, Maryland, in the United States Geological Survey's Geographic Names Information System
- GreatFalls, Virginia, on the United States Geological Survey's Geographic Names Information System
Coordinates: 38 ° 59 ′ 51 ″ N , 77 ° 15 ′ 9 ″ W.