Gwynns Falls facts for kids
Gwynns Falls is a stream in Maryland, about 24.9 miles (40.1 km) long. It starts in Reisterstown, which is in Baltimore County. From there, it flows southeast, going into Baltimore City. Finally, it empties into the Middle Branch of the Patapsco River. The Patapsco River then flows into the large Chesapeake Bay.
The area of land that drains water into Gwynns Falls is called its watershed. This watershed covers about 66 square miles (171 km²), and it includes 133 miles (214 km) of smaller streams that feed into Gwynns Falls.
What's in a Name?
Gwynns Falls was named after a person! His name was Richard Gwinn, and he set up a trading post along the stream way back in 1669.
You might think "falls" means there's a big waterfall, but there isn't one on Gwynns Falls. The name comes from an old description by John Smith. He saw how the stream was rough and rocky, with water tumbling over "felles" (an old word for rocky rapids). It's a bit confusing, but other streams in Baltimore, like Jones Falls and Gunpowder Falls, also have "falls" in their names even though they don't have waterfalls either!
Fun on the Water
When there's a lot of rain, the water level in Gwynns Falls gets high enough for whitewater kayaking! This is a fun and exciting sport where people paddle small boats down fast-moving water.
The most exciting part for kayakers is from the dam in Dickeyville down to the Washington Street bridge. This whole section is inside Baltimore City. There's a unique spot where a city water pipe crosses just above the water. Kayakers usually have to carry their boats around this pipe, which is called a "portage."
