The Walls of Jericho (canyon) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Walls of Jericho |
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Lower falls at the Walls of Jericho
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 Walls of Jericho
Location in Tennessee
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| Location | Tennessee and Alabama United States |
| Area | 750 acres (300 ha) |
| Designated | 2006 |
| Governing body | Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency |
| Website | Walls of Jericho Class II Natural-Scientific State Natural Area |
The Walls of Jericho is a beautiful natural area. It covers about 750 acres (300 hectares) of land. This special place is located in both Tennessee and Alabama, in the United States. It is part of a larger protected area called the Bear Hollow Mountain Wildlife Management Area.
The Walls of Jericho was officially named a natural area in 2016. The State of Tennessee owns this land. Together, the protected lands in Tennessee and Alabama cover more than 21,000 acres (8,600 hectares). Groups like The Nature Conservancy helped buy and protect this land. The area is about 12 miles south of Winchester. The border between Alabama and Tennessee runs right through the southern part of the natural area. This is where the main "Walls of Jericho" feature is found.
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Exploring the History of the Walls of Jericho
Legends say that Davy Crockett explored this area a long time ago. His family owned land nearby in the late 1700s. The name "Walls of Jericho" comes from a traveling preacher. He visited the area in the late 1800s. He gave it a biblical name because he performed baptisms there.
A rich oil businessman named Harry Lee Carter owned this land. He bought about 60,000 acres (24,000 hectares) in the 1940s. This land was in Franklin County, Tennessee, and Jackson County, Alabama. For many years, the Tennessee part of the Walls of Jericho was open to everyone. People could visit and enjoy nature. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency helped manage it. However, in 1977, the Walls of Jericho was closed to the public for a while.
Discovering the Geography of the Walls
The "Walls" are an amazing natural rock formation. They form a huge bowl-shaped area, like a giant outdoor theater. This is called an amphitheater. Water drips and spouts from holes in the limestone rocks. These holes are about the size of bowling balls.
The amphitheater has very steep rock walls. These walls rise about 200 feet (60 meters) high. Turkey Creek flows through the "Walls." This creek has helped shape the amphitheater over a very long time.
Amazing Plants and Animals of the Walls
The forest in this natural area is full of different trees. You can find maples, oaks, hickories, and tulip trees. There are also American beech trees and eastern red cedars. Many other plants that like limestone soil grow here too.
Beyond the main "Walls" feature, the forest is also special. It has many tall cliffs, large rocks sticking out of the ground, caves, and sinkholes. The Walls of Jericho is important not just for its geology. It also has a rich variety of living things.
Turkey Creek flows through the area from north to south. This creek is home to a rare plant called the limerock arrowwood (Viburnum bracteatum). This plant is endangered in Tennessee. It is found in only three known places in the state. Other rare species also live in the Turkey Creek area. Protecting Turkey Creek helps protect the Upper Paint Rock watershed downstream. Many rare mussels and fish species live in the Paint Rock River there.
How to Visit the Walls of Jericho
The Walls of Jericho is a very popular place for hiking and camping. There is a challenging 7-mile (11-kilometer) hiking trail. This trail connects the starting points in Tennessee and Alabama. You can find a basic campsite halfway along the trail, at the bottom of the canyon.
