Aysgarth Falls, Waterfall in Yorkshire Dales, England
Aysgarth Falls is a series of three descents along the River Ure that run through woodland for about half a mile. The water flows over limestone ledges and forms broad pools between each cascade.
Meltwater during the last Ice Age around 10,000 years ago eroded the underlying clay and limestone bedrock. These erosion processes created the cascades that exist along the river today.
William Wordsworth wrote about the area in the 19th century, and J.M.W. Turner produced drawings of the cascades. The work of these artists spread the reputation of the falls far beyond Yorkshire.
A visitor center near the upper falls provides parking and access to marked footpaths. The trails lead to all three falls, with the lower tier requiring the longest walk.
Salmon leap over the falls between September and November to reach their spawning grounds upstream. This migration is especially easy to observe when water levels are low.
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