Waterfalls ...things of beauty

A waterfall is any place where water flows over a vertical drop in the course of any stream or river, no matter the size of the drop. Erosion occurs where there is a waterfall and over time, the channel can become deeper and wider.

New York State is home to many waterfalls, those that are well known and poplular and those that are hidden away. Several are open to the public with all levels of accessibilty. Some of those that are hidden away are open for the public to find and others are on private property. The less visited, hidden away waterfalls are just as beautiful and rewarding to see as the well known ones are.

Waterfalls, no matter their size, are magical and bring relaxation to the viewer. There is an illusion called the "Waterfall Illusion" or the "Motion after-effect illusion". All you have to do is, stare at one of these waterfalls for about 20 seconds, then immediately look at a stationary object closeby, the stationary object will appear to be moving in the opposite direction.

It is said that the 6,000 acres of the state parks in the Finger Lakes region of New York State has more waterfalls than any other area east of the Rockies.

New York State is home to the most powerful waterfalls in North America, Niagara Falls. Even though Niagara Falls is the most powerful, Taughannock Falls at Taughannock Falls State Park in Tompkins County of New York State, is taller, being one of the largest single-drop waterfalls east of the Rocky Mountains.

New York is also home to "Grand Canyon of the East" or Letchworth State Park, which has 3 major waterfalls.

There is a unique small waterfall at Chestnut Ridge Park (the largest county park in the United States), which at the base, emits natural gas, which can produce a small flame, thence named, "The Eternal Flame Falls".

Explore New York and find your favorite waterfall. Here you can search New York State Waterfalls by county. ...more>>