Powerscourt Waterfall facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Powerscourt Waterfall
Eas Chonaill
The waterfall in August 2013
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Location	Powerscourt Estate, Ireland
Coordinates	53°08′46″N 6°12′40″W / 53.146°N 06.211°W / 53.146; -06.211 (Powerscourt Falls)
Type	Horsetail-fan
Total height	121 metres (397 ft)
Number of drops	Cascade waterfall
Watercourse	River Dargle
World height ranking	687

Powerscourt Waterfall (also known as Eas Chonaill in Irish) is the second tallest waterfall in Ireland. It stands about 121 metres (397 feet) high. You can find it at the bottom of the Glensoulan Valley, where the River Dargle flows, close to Enniskerry, in County Wicklow.

The waterfall is surrounded by tall mountains like Djouce (725 metres or 2,379 feet) and Maulin (570 metres or 1,870 feet). Water flows here all year round in a special "horsetail-fan" shape. Powerscourt Waterfall is part of the famous Powerscourt Estate, and visitors can come to see it for a small fee.

Where is Powerscourt Waterfall?

Powerscourt Waterfall, or Eas Chonaill in Irish, is located in the Glensoulan Valley. This valley is a "hanging valley," which means it's a valley that sits higher than the main valley it joins. The River Dargle flows through it. The river starts on the southern side of Tonduff mountain and then drops into a steep, bowl-shaped area called a "corrie," where the waterfall is.

Many mountains form a horseshoe shape around the upper part of the Glensoulan valley. These include Maulin (570 metres or 1,870 feet), Tonduff (642 metres or 2,106 feet), War Hill (686 metres or 2,251 feet), and Djouce (725 metres or 2,379 feet). The northern side of the waterfall is next to Crone Woods.

How the Waterfall Formed

The Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI) says that Powerscourt Waterfall is important for two reasons. First, it shows features left behind by glaciers. Second, the types of rocks in the area helped create the waterfall. The GSI describes the corrie (the bowl-shaped area) where the waterfall sits as a great example of "glacial erosion." This means that a lot of ice gathered there long ago and carved out the deep basin, with the waterfall flowing down its steep back wall.

The Powerscourt waterfall flows over a type of rock called Irish Ribband Group schists. These schists are found near a large body of granite rock. The way the rock layers are angled helps the water cascade down. At the bottom of the waterfall, in the pools, you can see different types of rocks. Some are schist, which looks silvery and shiny. Others are granite, which has a speckled, crystal-like look.

Visiting the Waterfall

The waterfall is part of the Powerscourt Estate. You can visit it by paying an entrance fee at a special visitor entrance, which is about 6 miles from the main estate entrance. At the bottom of the waterfall, there are places for visitors to park cars, have picnics, and even use barbecue areas. There are also other facilities available.

You can also see the waterfall from a spot called Ride Rock in Crone Woods. This area also has walking paths that lead to the top of Maulin mountain. A popular 7-kilometre (4.3-mile) walking trail, called the Maulin Circuit, includes Crone Woods, Maulin, and a view of Powerscourt waterfall.

A Royal Visit Story

In August 1821, King George IV visited Ireland. The owner of Powerscourt Estate at the time, Richard Wingfield, wanted to impress the King. He had the waterfall temporarily blocked so he could release a huge rush of water when the King was watching from a bridge below.

However, for reasons we don't know, the King never left the banquet at Powerscourt House to see the waterfall. This turned out to be lucky! When the water was finally released, the bridge was washed away by the powerful torrent.

Gallery

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  Waterfall in autumn

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  Waterfall and visitor picnic area

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  The waterfall in July 2008

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  From Crone Woods on slopes of Maulin

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  Glensoulan Valley and Djouce behind