Letchworth State Park
Letchworth State Park is a state park located 35 miles south of Rochester, New York. The park is roughly 15 miles long and can be entered from Mt. Morris, Perry, Castile, or Portageville.The park covers roughly 23 square miles of land along the Genesee River. Within the park there are three large waterfalls on the river and perhaps as many as 50 waterfalls found on tributaries that flow into it.
The three major waterfalls are located in the southern section of the park, which is known as the Portage Canyon. The Seneca Indians called the land around this canyon ?Seh-ga-hun-da,? the "Vale of the three falls." The three waterfalls are known as the Upper Falls, Middle Falls and Lower Falls. All have excellent viewing areas.
The highest waterfall in New York State is located in the park. It is a spectacular ribbon waterfall that is located on a tributary creek a short distance east of the Inspiration Point Overlook, 0.4 of a mile west of the park visitor center. Known as Inspiration Falls has a total drop of 350 feet. The falls faces to the south-southwest and has a crest that is only one-foot wide.
The bedrock that is exposed in the gorge is Devonian in age, mostly shales, with some layers of limestone and sandstone. The rock was laid down in an ancient inland sea, and many marine fossils can be found. The landform of the section of the Genesee River valley represented by the part is geologically very young, caused by a diversion of the river from the old valley by the last continental glacier, forcing the river to cut a new section of valley. For more info see: Genesee River: Glacial Geology
Referenced By
Genesee River | Genesee River: Glacial Geology | Genessee River | Portage, New York | Portageville, New York | Rochester, Monroe County, New York
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