Osprey Falls facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Osprey Falls |
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![]() Osprey Falls, ca. 1891
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Location | Yellowstone National Park, WY, US |
Coordinates | 44°55′42″N 110°40′53″W / 44.928333°N 110.681389°W |
Type | Plunge |
Total height | 150 feet (46 m) |
Watercourse | Gardner River |
Osprey Falls is a beautiful waterfall located in the northwestern part of Yellowstone National Park in the United States. It's found on the Gardner River and is known for its impressive drop. The falls are inside a place called Sheepeater Canyon. You can reach them by hiking on the Osprey Falls trail.
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About Osprey Falls
Osprey Falls is a type of waterfall known as a plunge waterfall. This means the water falls straight down without touching the rock face behind it. It's a very dramatic sight to see!
How tall is it?
The water at Osprey Falls drops about 150 feet (46 m). That's like falling from the top of a 15-story building! The powerful Gardner River creates this amazing natural feature.
Where is it located?
Osprey Falls is deep within Sheepeater Canyon. This canyon is a rugged and wild part of Yellowstone National Park. To visit the falls, you need to hike along the Osprey Falls trail. This trail offers great views of the surrounding nature.
History of the Name
Osprey Falls got its name in 1885. People from a group called the Hague Survey named it. They chose the name because of the Osprey birds. These large fishing birds are often seen flying around Yellowstone National Park. They are known for their sharp eyesight and amazing fishing skills.
What did people say about it?
In 1886, a man named George Wood Wingate wrote about Osprey Falls. He was a former officer and explored the park on horseback. He described the falls as a "magnificent and most picturesque sight."
Wingate wrote about the canyon walls. He said they dropped almost straight down, like the Palisades on the Hudson River. He noted that the canyon was four times deeper. He described how the river plunges over a hundred feet. Then, it continues to fall in many smaller cascades. He felt that the white water, the tumbling river, and the dark shadows of the canyon made a striking picture.