Churchill Falls, Waterfall on Churchill River in Labrador, Canada
Churchill Falls is a waterfall on the Churchill River in the interior of Labrador, Canada, dropping roughly 75 m (245 ft) into McLean Canyon. The water tumbles between steep rock walls and forms part of a series of rapids that continue for several kilometers downstream.
The trader John McLean of the Hudson's Bay Company reached the site in 1839 and first called it Grand Falls. In 1965 the waterfall received its current name in honor of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
The Innu people of the region viewed this site as a place where natural and spiritual forces meet, treating it with deep respect. They believed that looking directly at the water could bring harm and avoided the area during certain times of year.
The Churchill Falls Generating Station has diverted most of the water flow through turbines since the 1970s, so the waterfall now carries roughly one-tenth of its former volume. Visitors should know the site is in a remote area with limited access.
The Churchill River drops a total of roughly 335 m (1,100 ft) over a stretch of about 26 km (16 mi), with this waterfall marking the largest single descent along that section. Today visitors see mainly the power station rather than the original volume of water that once roared through the canyon.
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