Eagle Falls--On the Other Side EarthCache

Eagle Falls

Eagle Falls in McCreary County, Kentucky is an example of a block type of falls. It is located about a quarter mile downstream from Cumberland Falls, easily within sight of the streams confluence with the Cumberland River. This water fall has a deep clear splash pool and swift, cool water that makes is a popular spot for hikers to enjoy in the summertime and for some to cool off on the hottest of days. Although it is tempting, we do not recommend swimming here and neither does the park service.

In our opinion this is one of the prettiest falls we have visited anywhere. The combination of the well-kept trails, the nearby Cumberland River, the relative isolation and the falls itself make this one of the best kept secrets in the state.

The rock here is sedimentary with sandstone being predominant, however there are many small pieces of coal to be found near the mouth of the stream. This suggests that there is a coal seam upstream of the Cumberland River. The large size of the rocks and boulders suggests that the swift waters have moved all but the largest downstream over the millions of years of floods. The sand of course remains, as it is deposited as the waters slow and these sediments ‘fall out’ of the moving water and settle to the bottom.

A waterfall is where a body of water, such as a stream or river flows over erosion resistant rock with a sudden break in elevation. Often there are softer, more easily eroded rock layers underneath the harder layers of rock that break away due to gravity or are in fact eroded by “splashback”, water that comes over the falls and splashes back onto these softer rock. This forms a rock-shelter behind the falls, such as seen here.

There are several different types of waterfalls, each with its own characteristics and some that combine features rolled up into one. Below are some of the different types of falls.

• Block: Water descends vertically to form a wide stream or river.

• Cascade: Water descends a series of rock steps.

• Cataract: A large powerful waterfall, such as Cumberland or Niagara Falls.

• Fan: This is where the water spreads out horizontally as it descends while maintaining contact with the bedrock.

• Horsetail: Descending water maintains some contact with the bedrock.

• Plunge: Water descends vertically, losing contact with the surface of the bedrock.

• Punchbowl: Water descends in a constricted form and then spreads out into a wider pool.

• Segmented: Distinctly separate flows of water form as it descends.

• Tiered: Water drops in a series of distinct steps or falls.

• Multi-step: A series of waterfalls, one after another of roughly the same size, each with its own sunken plunge pool.

How to get there: From the Cumberland Falls parking area, continue on highway 90 and go across the stone bridge. There is a parking area on the right shortly after crossing the river with a sign at the trail head.

Qualifications for Credit

To get credit for the earthcache, email the answers to the following questions and then post a picture of you, your GPSr and Eagle Falls clearly in the background (on the side of the river where the coordinates are given) when you log your find. Posts with no pictures or without emailing the answers will be deleted. If no picture is possible, for instance you dropped your camera in the creek, or the batteries died, let us know first and we will work something out.

Questions:

1. What type of waterfall is this classified as?

2.Why do we often see rock shelters such as we see here behind waterfalls?

3. What is your estimation of the distance from the waterfall to the Cumberland River?

Credits and Ammosuperman EarthCaches

This EarthCache was created by a team of two Platinum EarthCache Masters, Ammosuperman EarthCaches are a collaborative effort. We have used resources such as the Internet and magazine articles as well as personal experience in visiting the sites, as research tools in its construction. Our goal is to learn more about our planet and to pass along what we have learned to others having similar interests. We hope you enjoy the experience.