LeConte Falls facts for kids
Quick facts for kids LeConte Falls |
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Location | Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California, U.S. |
Coordinates | 37°55′24″N 119°27′06″W / 37.9232°N 119.4517°W |
Type | Slide |
LeConte Falls is a beautiful waterfall located in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California. You can find it within the famous Yosemite National Park. This impressive waterfall is part of the Tuolumne River.
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Discovering LeConte Falls
LeConte Falls is a special place in Yosemite National Park. It is known for its unique way the water flows. The falls are a great spot to visit when exploring the park's natural wonders.
Where is LeConte Falls?
LeConte Falls is found in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. This range stretches across a large part of California. The waterfall is specifically located inside Yosemite National Park. Yosemite is a very popular park known for its giant sequoia trees and stunning valleys.
How Big is LeConte Falls?
LeConte Falls is quite tall, dropping about 229 feet (which is about 69.8 meters). It is a type of waterfall called a "cascade." This means the water flows down over a series of rocky steps. It is the second largest waterfall on the Tuolumne River. The biggest waterfall on this river is Waterwheel Falls. Waterwheel Falls is about 0.6 miles (1 kilometer) downstream from LeConte Falls. Both waterfalls are part of the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne.
The Story Behind the Name
LeConte Falls got its name in 1894. It was named after a well-known professor, Joseph LeConte. A man named Robert M. Price wanted to honor Professor LeConte. He originally intended to name what is now called "Waterwheel Falls" as "LeConte Falls."
However, there was a mix-up when a mapmaker created a map. The mapmaker accidentally put the name "LeConte Falls" on a different waterfall. This waterfall was once known as "California Falls." Even though it was a mistake, the new name stuck. So, the waterfall we know today as LeConte Falls was named by accident!