Cheat Canyon facts for kids
Cheat Canyon, also called Cheat River Canyon, is a beautiful, long canyon in West Virginia, USA. It stretches for about 10 miles and is filled with forests. The Cheat River flows through it, carving out this amazing natural space. It's a very popular spot for exciting whitewater sports like kayaking and rafting. People have also worked hard to protect this special place and its wildlife.
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What is Cheat Canyon?
This amazing canyon was formed by the Cheat River over many years. It's about 10.5 miles long. You can find it between the towns of Albright and Cheat Lake in West Virginia. The sides of the canyon are very steep and covered in trees. They rise up to 1,200 feet from the river below!
How Was Cheat Canyon Formed?
The top edges of Cheat Canyon are made of hard, white rock called Pottsville sandstone. This rock forms the cool cliffs and rocky areas you can see along the rim. Sometimes, pieces of these rocks break off and slide down the slopes, piling up at the bottom of the river.
Deeper inside the canyon walls, there's another type of rock called Greenbrier Limestone. Water has carved out many caves in this softer rock over time.
Animals and Plants of Cheat Canyon
Cheat Canyon is home to many special animals and plants. Some of these species are very rare! For example, there's a tiny snail called the flat-spired three-toothed snail and a special bat called the Indiana bat. These animals are protected to help them survive.
Besides these, you can find eight other unique species in the canyon. These include the Virginia bladetooth snail, the delicate vertigo snail, and the eastern small-footed bat. There are also green salamanders, Allegheny woodrats, and a rare plant called Barbara's buttons. Scientists have even found two types of tiny creatures, an amphipod and an isopod, that are not found many other places.
Whitewater Fun in the Canyon
The Cheat River in the canyon is famous for its exciting whitewater rapids. These rapids are rated as Class IV and sometimes even Class V when the water is high. This makes it a top spot for kayaking and rafting!
Some of the most challenging and well-known rapids are called Big Nasty, High Falls, and Upper Coliseum.
The Cheat Festival
Every year, on the first weekend in May, many paddlers from different states come together for the Cheat Festival. It's a big celebration of whitewater sports!
The Cheat River Race
A very popular whitewater race, called The Cheat River Race, happens in the canyon on the Friday of the festival weekend. Unlike most whitewater races where people start one by one, this race has a mass start. This means everyone starts at the same time! For the first few miles, paddlers have to be careful not to crash into each other, while also navigating the tricky rapids. About 150 people usually join this race, making it one of the biggest whitewater races around!
