Nooksack Falls facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nooksack Falls |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Lua error in Module:Infobox_mapframe at line 185: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Location | Mount Baker National Forest, Whatcom County, Washington, United States |
| Coordinates | 48°54′19″N 121°48′32″W / 48.90528°N 121.80889°W |
| Type | Segmented |
| Total height | 88 feet (27 m) |
| Number of drops | 1 |
| Longest drop | 88 feet (27 m) |
| Total width | 30 feet (9.1 m) |
| Watercourse | North Fork Nooksack River |
Nooksack Falls is a beautiful waterfall located in Whatcom County, Washington. It's part of the North Fork of the Nooksack River. The water flows through a narrow valley and then drops an impressive 88 feet (about 27 meters) into a deep, rocky river canyon. You can view the falls from a forested area near the cliff's edge. The falls are just a short drive, about two-thirds of a mile, off the Mount Baker Highway, also known as Washington State Route 542. Nooksack Falls was even shown in a hunting scene in the famous movie The Deer Hunter.
Nooksack Falls: A Natural Wonder
Nooksack Falls is a stunning natural landmark. The powerful water creates a misty spray as it plunges into the canyon below. The surrounding area is part of the Mount Baker National Forest, making it a great spot to experience nature. It's a popular place for visitors to enjoy the beauty of the Pacific Northwest.
A Look at Its History
In the late 1800s, people discovered many valuable minerals, like gold, in eastern Whatcom County, Washington. The area around Nooksack Falls was especially rich. The most important discovery was the Lone Jack Claim in 1897. Before this mine closed in 1924, about $500,000 worth of gold was dug up!
Because of the success of the Lone Jack Claim, this area became known as the Mount Baker Mining District. Between 1890 and 1937, over 5,000 mining claims were made here.
How the Falls Helped Mining
One of the mines, called the Great Excelsior Mine, was located not far from the Nooksack Falls Powerplant. In 1902, the Excelsior Mine built a special machine called a 20-stamp mill. This machine crushed the rocks (ore) to get the valuable minerals out. A water-powered machine called a turbine provided the energy for this mill.
Later, in 1914, when the Excelsior Mill was rebuilt, an electric power line was extended from the Nooksack Falls power plant. This line brought electricity to the mill, helping it to work even better. This shows how the power of Nooksack Falls helped the mining industry in the region.
