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--Oscar Wilde on Absinthe
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BobSmith - Jul 4, 2009 8:46 am - Voted 10/10
Few.I've always thought it strange how few notable waterfalls are in the GSMNP. A geologist explained it to me, and I reckon his explanation makes sense--but it's still a weirdism for that park to be relatively absent of large numbers of major waterfalls.
MarkDidier - Jul 5, 2009 9:36 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Few.That is true...there really aren't that many notable falls within the park. And even on the bigger falls there doesn't seem to be a large flow of water, which is strange considering the large volume of rain the park gets.
BobSmith - Jul 5, 2009 10:54 pm - Voted 10/10
Re: Few.As it was explained to me, the reason is the relative "softness" of the rock that makes up the spine of the Smokies. Thus, water has a tendency to dig quickly through obstructions and even out the gradients over which it flows.
Arthur Digbee - Mar 28, 2011 6:08 pm - Voted 10/10
Re: Few.Makes sense - and it explains why there are so many beautiful creek scenes where the water just tumbles and tumbles and tumbles over rocks through rhododendron forests, making lots of little swimming holes.