Toccoa Falls Earthcache EarthCache
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Become an Earthcache Master:
Toccoa Falls is nestled in the foothills of the Great Smokey
Mountains and is located on the campus of Toccoa Falls College. In
the Cherokee language, Toccoa means beautiful.
Toccoa Falls is 186 feet tall from the base to the top and is one
of the tallest waterfalls in the Eastern United States. It is
actually higher than Niagara Falls.
Parking is near the gift shop and the entrance to the Falls is
located inside the gift shop. There is a fee to view the falls. The
gift shop is open from 8:30am until sundown. If you would like to
confirm that the gift shop will be open before your planned visit,
you may reach the gift shop at (706) 886-7299, ext. 5215.
The path from the gift shop to the falls is approximately 100
yards. It is a very easy walk with minimal elevation and is
handicap accessible.
Toccoa Falls is the site of the earthen dam which broke on November
6, 1977. Tragically thirty-nine people lost their lives when the
dam above the falls failed sending 170 million gallons of water
downstream and over the falls.
Visiting this earthcache will take you to a beautiful waterfall.
But, it will also help you learn about the different types of
waterfalls.
There are several different types of waterfalls. The types
are:
• Block: Water descends from a relatively wide stream
or river.
• Cascade: Water descends a series of rock steps.
• Cataract: A large waterfall.
• Fan: Water spreads horizontally as it descends while
remaining in contact with bedrock.
• Horsetail: Descending water maintains some contact
with bedrock.
• Plunge: Water descends vertically, losing contact
with the bedrock surface.
• Punchbowl: Water descends in a constricted form, then
spreads out in 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.
To receive credit for this earthcache you will need to post a
photo and answer two questions.
1. Post a photo on this cache page of you with Toccoa Falls or
something in the immediate area of the waterfall in the background
of your photo. (this is to prove you were there.)
2. Email the answer to this question to me. (Don’t post the
answer here.) After you examine Toccoa Falls, take a look at the
different types of waterfalls listed above. Which type of waterfall
do you feel best represents Toccoa Falls? Also, tell me why you
choose the type you did.
3. Email the answer to this question to me. (Don’t post the
answer here.) This answer is also to prove your visit. The
information you need is posted near the falls. In 1911 who moved
the school to the present campus?
Congratulations to EBBJr for being FTF!
As of April 11, 2009, I am adding this note
to all of my earthcache listings. I request that you email the
answers to me on the same day that you log your “found
it” log. (This does not have to be the day you visit, just
the day you log the find on the computer.) I also request that you
do not log a “found it” log unless you have actually
visited the site of the earthcache and sent the answers to me. As
much as I hate to do so, I will delete logs of finders who have not
provided the appropriate answers.
A recent finder let me know that the fees have changed. The fees
are listed below.
Adult $2.00
Seniors 60+ $1.00
Children to 5 years free......6-12 $1.00
Groups of 10 or more $1.00
Families of 4 or more $5.00
Annual Pass $10.00
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)