Montezuma Falls facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Montezuma Falls |
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Montezuma Falls
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 Location in Tasmania
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| Location | West Coast Range, Tasmania, Australia |
| Coordinates | 41°49′48″S 145°28′12″E / 41.83000°S 145.47000°E |
| Type | Tiered |
| Elevation | 449 metres (1,473 ft) AHD |
| Total height | 103–110 m (338–361 ft) |
| Number of drops | 2 |
| Watercourse | A tributary to the Pieman River |
The Montezuma Falls is a stunning waterfall in Tasmania, Australia. It's located in the West Coast Range. This beautiful waterfall flows into a small stream that eventually joins the Pieman River. It used to be called Osbourne Falls. The falls are known as a horsetail waterfall because of how the water flows, looking a bit like a horse's tail.
Why is it Called Montezuma Falls?
The Montezuma Falls got its name from a famous Aztec emperor. His name was Montezuma, and he ruled in Mexico a long time ago.
A mining company called the Montezuma Silver Mining Company was formed in 1891. This company owned land around the waterfall. That's how the falls got their unique name!
Where are the Falls and What are They Like?
The Montezuma Falls are found in Tasmania, Australia. They are north-east of a town called Zeehan. You can find them close to the village of Rosebery. You can get there by using the Murchison Highway.
The waterfall starts high up, about 449 meters (1,473 feet) above sea level. The water then drops a long way down. The falls are between 103 and 110 meters (338 to 361 feet) tall. This makes Montezuma Falls one of the highest waterfalls in all of Tasmania!
You can visit the falls by walking on a special track. The walking track is about 8 kilometers (5 miles) long. It takes about three hours to walk there and back. The track starts near Williamsford, at the bottom of Mount Read.
The Old Railway Line
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The walking track follows the path of an old railway line. This railway was called the North East Dundas Tramway. It was a narrow gauge railway, only about 2 feet (61 centimeters) wide. Old pictures of the falls often show this railway line passing by.
The Montezuma Falls area was a stopping point on this tramway. People riding the train could see the falls up close. In 1926, someone described the railway's closeness to the falls. They said the train would go deep into the mountains. It would pass huge forests.
At one spot, you could get a great view of the Montezuma Falls. The train was so close that sometimes water spray would hit the train windows! After the railway stopped running, its path was still used. People would walk along it to see the beautiful falls.
