Falls Creek (Delaware River tributary) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Falls Creek |
|
|---|---|
 Falls Creek
|
|
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Bucks County |
| Township | Bridgeton Township |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | 535 feet (163 m) 40°34′19″N 75°8′9″W / 40.57194°N 75.13583°W |
| River mouth | 140 feet (43 m) 40°33′17″N 75°8′32″W / 40.55472°N 75.14222°W |
| Length | 1.40 miles (2.25 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Falls Creek → Delaware River |
| River system | Delaware River |
| Bridges | Woodland Drive, Ringing Rocks Road, Pennsylvania Route 32 (River Road) |
Falls Creek is a small stream, also called a tributary, that flows into the Delaware River. It's located entirely within Bridgeton Township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. This creek is famous for having the highest waterfall in all of Bucks County!
Contents
Falls Creek Facts and Figures
Falls Creek was officially added to the Geographic Names Information System on February 1, 1990. This system keeps track of names and locations of places in the United States.
The creek is about 1.4 miles (2.3 km) long. Where it starts, called its source, it's about 535 feet (163 m) high above sea level. When it reaches its end, called its mouth, it's about 140 feet (43 m) high.
The creek generally slopes downwards about 282 feet for every mile it travels. But near the amazing waterfall, the slope gets much steeper! In that section, the creek drops about 300 feet (91 m) over a distance of 2,040 feet (620 m). This means it drops about 750 feet per mile in that area.
Where Falls Creek Flows
Falls Creek begins its journey near two interesting places. To its west is Pennsylvania State Game Lands Number 56, which is a protected area for wildlife. To its northeast is Ringing Rocks County Park, known for its unique musical rocks.
The creek first flows a short distance to the east. Then, it turns north and gets water from another small stream joining it from the right. It continues flowing north until it empties into the Pennsylvania Canal (Delaware Division).
Just a little bit before it reaches the canal, Falls Creek tumbles over High Falls. This is the tallest waterfall in Bucks County, making it a truly special spot along the creek's path.
The Rocks and Land Around Falls Creek
The area around Falls Creek is part of two main geological regions. Most of the creek flows over a type of igneous rock called diabase. This rock formed when hot, melted rock pushed up into older rocks and then cooled down.
Diabase is usually dark gray or black. It's made up of minerals like labradorite and augite.
As the creek flows over High Falls, it moves onto a different type of rock called the Brunswick Formation. These rocks were formed a very long time ago, during the Jurassic and Triassic periods. They are made of mudstone, siltstone, and shale, which are types of sedimentary rocks. You might find minerals like argillite and hornfels in them.
Finally, as Falls Creek gets closer to the Delaware River, it flows over an area called Trenton Gravel. This area formed more recently, during the Quaternary period. It's made up of sand and clay.
Bridges Over Falls Creek
Several bridges cross over Falls Creek, allowing roads to pass above it. Here are some of the main crossings:
- Woodland Drive
- Ringing Rocks Road: This bridge was built in 1927. It's about 27.9 feet (8.5 m) long and has two lanes.
- Pennsylvania Route 32 (River Road)
