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Wonder
Mooney Falls
In short
An approximately 58 m tall waterfall in Havasu canyon. Around the falls are interesting tufa formations and below the falls have formed terraces.
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Location, address
Map of the site
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In detail
More detailed description of the geological history of waterfalls in Havasu Canyon is provided in the article about Havasu Falls.
Between Supai village and the Colorado River in Havasu Canyon are five-six larger waterfalls and countless smaller travertine terraces. The main waterfalls (starting from Supai) are:
- Fiftyfoot Falls
- Lower Navajo Falls
- Havasu Falls
- Mooney Falls
- Beaver Falls
There are also many smaller waterfalls in between these large falls.
Mooney Falls is the fourth-fifth waterfall in this sequence and the tallest one – 58 meters tall!
This is a very beautiful waterfall with a single plunge into an amazing, blue-green pool and reddish-brown cliffs around it. Cliffs are adorned with tufa and travertine formations. Also, the pool below the falls is framed by travertine terraces, making the scenery even more beautiful.
Smaller waterfalls in Havasu Canyon from time to time are changing due to powerful flash floods: some falls even disappear or emerge in a place where before was no waterfall.
Mooney Falls is a larger and more permanent waterfall. Nevertheless, flash floods have changed this waterfall as well. For example, in 1990 the travertine dams below the falls were eliminatedDescent to the foot of falls is not for the faint of heart – the trail goes down along a nearly vertical cliff with ropes and stairs, sometimes also through natural tunnels that have been expanded to make the descent easier.
Area below the Mooney Falls in the earlier times served as a burial ground for the Havasupai people.
The falls were named after D. W. “James” Mooney – a prospector who perished in 1882 while trying to descend to the base of the falls.
References
- Mooney Falls, World of Waterfalls. Accessed on December 11, 2022.
- Theodore S. Melis, William M. Phillips, Robert H. Webb, and Donald J. Bills. When the Blue-Green Waters Turn Red. Historical Flooding in Havasu Creek, Arizona, U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Water-Resources Investigations Report 96—4059. 1996. Accessed on October 26, 2022.
Linked articles
Wonders of Arizona
Some of the world’s most impressive sights are located in Arizona. This American state has such landmarks of world fame as the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley.
Wonders of the United States
The United States of America is one of the largest countries in the world and offers a wide array of diverse attractions: many are unsurpassed in the world. Highlights of the United States are cliffs, canyons, and rock formations, several impressive downtowns of cities with numerous skyscrapers as well as a rich array of geothermal features, and the giant forest of California.
Waterfalls
Some of the most fascinating and awe-inspiring natural monuments are waterfalls or locations where a river abruptly changes its elevation.
Recommended books
Arizona State Parks: A Guide to Amazing Places in the Grand Canyon State
Home to one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, Arizona is a beacon for outdoor enthusiasts–the desert landscape is brimming with opportunities for exploration and adventure. In this guide we join travel writer Roger Naylor as he takes us through the state parks of this amazing region. The parks featured throughout this book offer some of the best hiking, camping, fishing, boating, stargazing, and wildlife watching in the state.
Exploring Havasupai: A Guide to the Heart of the Grand Canyon
Deep in the Grand Canyon lies a place of unmatched beauty―a place where blue-green water cascades over fern-clad cliffs into travertine pools, where great blue heron skim canyon streams, and where giant cottonwoods and graceful willows thrive in the shade of majestic sandstone cliffs. Havasupai is a paradise enveloped in one of the earth’s most rugged and parched landscapes.
