Chasing Waterfalls

In Tornado Alley where I grew up, there are storm chasers, people who pursue tornadoes for scientific  investigation or simply for the thrill of it.  They are crazy!  I'd rather chase another natural phenomenon--waterfalls.

This summer we've seen the second largest waterfall east of the Mississippi River.  Actually, make that two we've seen which are reputed by locals to hold second place after Niagara Falls!

Tahquamenon Falls

Yoopers, those residents of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, claim Tahquamenon (pronounced Te-Qua-Min-On and rhymes with phenomenon) Falls is the next largest waterfall after Niagara Falls.

Cumberland Falls

Yet, Rick and Julie, our friends in Corbin, Kentucky, say the Cumberland Falls has claimed that spot.

Tahquamenon's Upper Falls

So let's look at the statistics!  Tahquamenon's Upper Falls are at least 200 feet across with a drop of approximately 48 feet.  Wikipedia states that "during the late spring runoff, the [Tahquamenon] river drains as much as 50,000 US gallons of water per second, making the upper falls the third most voluminous vertical waterfall east of the Mississippi River."  Hmmm!  Third most voluminous?  Obviously, those Yoopers are prone to exaggeration by claiming the No. 2 spot.

Tim and I climb down to the brink of the Tahquamenon Falls for a closer look.

Tim at the observation deck for Tahquamenon Falls

Yes, it's magnificent, and as Tim and I can attest, it's a long haul back up those 94 steps to the trail.

But it was worth it to see the beauty of this place in the North Woods.

Cumberland Falls

On the other hand, the Cumberland Falls makes a strong claim simply by its sobriquet, The Niagara of the South.

Julie and I at the observation deck for Cumberland Falls

Again I turned to Wikipedia for statistics.  There I read the Cumberland Falls "is 68 feet high and 125 feet wide."

Furthermore, according to Wikipedia's entry, "Cumberland Falls is the second largest waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains and the largest waterfall as measured by water volume in the Eastern United States, south of Niagara Falls."  Ah, ha!  If Wikipedia says it, it must be true, right?  However, when I followed Wikipedia's footnotes, this quote came directly from The Explore Kentucky Initiative web site, an organization that clearly has promotion of Kentucky in mind.

So, finally I googled "largest waterfalls in the US" only to find that neither Tahquamenon nor Cumberland Falls are found on the World List Mania's "Tallest and Largest Waterfalls in US," but that's beside the point.  I'm casting my vote with my friends for the Cumberland Falls simply because its setting in the Cumberland River Gorge is so, well, gorgeous.  Plus, I value my friendship with Julie which goes clear back to our Wilderness Women era, times when we with two other single female friends backpacked through the wilderness of the Rocky Mountains.

Cumberland Falls Moon Bow by William V. Cox
Posted on Wikipedia

One more note that places Cumberland Falls ahead of the Tahquamenon, in Julie's opinion, is its moon bow.  If it is clear on the night of a full moon, you just might see a lunar rainbow at the base of the falls.  This rainbow is caused when moonlight is reflected off mist from the falls.  I only wish I'd been there at the right time to see it.