Great Falls, Waterfall system at Potomac River, United States
The Potomac River descends 76 feet through Mather Gorge, forming a sequence of powerful waterfalls over rock formations along the Virginia-Maryland border.
George Washington established the Patowmack Canal system in 1785 to facilitate navigation around the falls, marking an early attempt at American transportation infrastructure.
The falls represent a meeting point between Virginia and Maryland communities, serving as a natural landmark that draws visitors from Washington DC metropolitan area.
Three separate viewing platforms provide different perspectives of the falls, with Overlooks 2 and 3 offering wheelchair-accessible paths to observation points.
The water flow through the falls varies substantially throughout the year, reaching extreme levels during floods as marked on the High Water Pole near Overlook 3.
Location: Montgomery County
Location: Fairfax County
Part of: Potomac River
Website: http://nps.gov/choh/planyourvisit/greatfallstavernvisitorcenter.htm
GPS coordinates: 38.99769,-77.25287
Latest update: May 27, 2025 10:07
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