Barron Falls facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Barron Falls Din Din
Barron Falls in the wet season.
Location in Queensland
Lua error in Module:Infobox_mapframe at line 185: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
Location	Atherton Tablelands, Queensland, Australia
Coordinates	16°50′19″S 145°38′45″E / 16.83861°S 145.64583°E / -16.83861; 145.64583
Type	Steep Tiered Cascade
Total height	125 metres (410 ft)
Number of drops	4
Longest drop	107 metres (351 ft)
Total width	259 metres (850 ft)
Average width	137 metres (449 ft)
Watercourse	Barron River
Average flow rate	30 cubic metres per second (1,100 cu ft/s)

The Barron Falls is a beautiful waterfall in Queensland, Australia. Its Aboriginal name is Din Din. This amazing waterfall is on the Barron River. It flows down from the Atherton Tablelands to the flat coastal area near Cairns.

In 2009, the Barron Falls was named one of the "Q150 Icons" of Queensland. This was part of a big celebration called Q150, which marked 150 years since Queensland became a separate colony. The falls were chosen because they are such a special natural attraction.

Where are the Barron Falls located?

Barron Falls in the dry season.

The Barron Falls are protected inside the Barron Gorge National Park. You can see a lot of water flowing over the falls during the wet season. This is after heavy rains.

However, for most of the year, there isn't as much water. This is because a special wall, called a weir, holds back some of the river's water. This water is used to power the Barron Gorge Hydroelectric Power Station, which makes electricity for people.

How to visit Barron Falls

You can reach the Barron Falls by road using the Kennedy Highway. This road crosses the Barron River not far from the falls, near a town called Kuranda.

There are also two fun ways to see the falls:

• The Kuranda Scenic Railway is a train with a narrow track. It travels from the coast up to the tablelands. The train even stops at a special viewpoint for the Barron Falls. Passengers can get off for a few minutes to take pictures.
• The Skyrail is like a big gondola lift. It also goes from the coast to the tablelands. The Skyrail has two stops in the rainforest: Red Peak and Barron Falls. At the Barron Falls Skyrail station, you can walk on trails through the rainforest. These trails lead to three different spots where you can get amazing views of the gorge and the falls.

Who named the Barron Falls?

The falls were named after a man called Thomas Henry Bowman Barron. He was an important police officer in Brisbane back in the 1860s.

Why are the Barron Falls a popular place to visit?

By the 1890s, the Barron Falls had already become one of the most popular places for tourists to visit in Queensland. People love to come and see the natural beauty and amazing scenery of the falls and the surrounding area.