Bridal Veil Falls (Telluride) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bridal Veil Falls |
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 Location in Colorado
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| Location | Telluride, Colorado |
| Coordinates | 37°55′09″N 107°46′12″W / 37.91917°N 107.77000°W |
| Elevation | 10,279 ft (3,133 m) |
| Total height | 365 ft (111 m) |
| Watercourse | San Miguel River |
Bridal Veil Falls is a stunning waterfall in Colorado. It drops 365 feet (111 meters) down a steep canyon. This beautiful waterfall is located near the town of Telluride, Colorado.
At the very top of the falls, there is an old power plant. This plant uses the force of the water to make electricity. In the winter, the waterfall freezes solid. This creates a huge, icy challenge for brave ice climbers.
Exploring Bridal Veil Falls
Bridal Veil Falls actually has two main sections. The area around the falls can be dangerous due to avalanches. To keep people safe, experts sometimes create controlled snow slides. These controlled slides are often watched by many people and photographers.
A fun hiking trail goes past the falls. It continues up into beautiful mountain meadows. You can also find clear mountain lakes high above 10,000 feet (3,048 meters).
History of Climbing the Falls
In 1978, two climbers named Jeff Lowe and Mike Wiess made history. They were the first to successfully climb the frozen waterfall. Their amazing climb was even shown on a TV show called "ABC’s Wide World of Sports."
For a while, ice climbing on the falls was not allowed. This was because the land is private property. However, there have been talks about buying the land. This would allow climbers to safely enjoy this incredible challenge again. Many climbers call Bridal Veil Falls "the most difficult waterfall ice climb in North America."
Making Electricity at the Falls
Right at the top of Bridal Veil Falls, there is a hydroelectric power plant. It is called the Smuggler-Union Hydroelectric Power Plant. It was built a long time ago, in 1907.
This plant first made power for a mine nearby. Later, a company called Idarado Mining Company owned it. In 1988, a local person named Eric Jacobson took over the plant. He fixed it up, and it started making power again in 1991.
Today, the Idarado Mining Company runs the power plant. It sells the electricity it makes. This power plant provides about 25 percent of the electricity for Telluride. It still uses its original 2300-volt alternating current generator. This makes it one of the oldest working AC generators in the United States! Because of its history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
