Tueeulala Falls, Waterfall in Hetch Hetchy Valley, Yosemite National Park, United States.
Tueeulala Falls is a waterfall in Hetch Hetchy Valley within Yosemite National Park that drops in two distinct sections. The water plunges straight down a granite cliff before tumbling in steps over rocky terrain below.
The sources record no documented discovery date or settler history for Tueeulala Falls. The waterfall lies on a seasonal distributary of Falls Creek, whose main channel runs over neighbouring Wapama Falls; the side channel carries water only during spring snowmelt. Hetch Hetchy Valley became part of Yosemite National Park, and the reservoir behind O'Shaughnessy Dam later flooded the valley floor beneath the falls.
The falls take their name from a Native American word also recorded as Tu-ee-u-la-la; early maps and later gazetteers list the variant Tueculala Falls. The waterfall sits on a seasonal distributary of Falls Creek, the branch that feeds Wapama Falls, so its flow depends on spring snowmelt rather than a permanent channel.
The hike to the falls starts at O'Shaughnessy Dam and passes through a rock tunnel that may be wet or contain running water during certain seasons. Sturdy footwear and sure footing are essential since the path can be slippery and exposed to spray from the falls.
Tueeulala Falls sits on a seasonal distributary of Falls Creek, whose main channel feeds Wapama Falls. Water reaches it only when spring snowmelt raises the creek high enough, so it can rank among Yosemite's most powerful waterfalls and then lose flow faster than any other in the park.
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