DeSoto Falls, Alabama

Photo by me, November 2007.

Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto explored the southeastern portions of what is now the United States in the 1500s. He is considered to be the first European explorer to widely travel into these areas. It is not uncommon to find landmarks named for him across the south. One of those places is DeSoto Falls located in DeKalb County, Alabama. The falls are a part of the DeSoto State Park located on Lookout Mountain in northeastern Alabama.

Photo by me, November 2007.

Photo by me, November 2007.

The waterfall descends 104 feet into a large pool. There are hiking trails in the area to seek out other vantage points but you can also walk right along the top of these falls too. You can get precariously close with only a haphazard metal railing to keep you from going over a sheer cliff. The rocks along the top can become slick in wet weather. As the sign in the photo reads, "dangerous overlook."

Photo by me, November 2007.

There is a nice view also only marred by a house. Photo by me, November 2007.

Photo by me, November 2007.

The forces of the water have carved the face of the earth through the rocks as the water dives from the cliff into the large pool below.

Photo by me, November 2007.

Above the main falls in a smaller set of falls and above that is a dam with water flowing over the top. This dam was the first hydroelectric damn built in northern Alabama. The dam was constructed in 1925.