Toketee Falls facts for kids
Toketee Falls is a beautiful waterfall located in Douglas County, Oregon, in the United States. It sits where the North Umpqua River joins the Clearwater River. You can find it about 58 miles (93 km) east of Roseburg, close to Oregon Route 138.
The name Toketee (pronounced TOKE-uh-tee) comes from a language called Chinook Jargon. It means "pretty" or "graceful." In 1916, the United States Board on Geographic Names officially decided to call it Toketee Falls.
What Makes Toketee Falls Special?
Toketee Falls was formed from very old rock called basalt. This rock has a special shape, like tall columns. The waterfall drops about 120 feet (37 meters) in two main sections.
The North Umpqua River always has a good amount of water. This means Toketee Falls looks impressive all year round. It doesn't change much with the seasons, unlike some other waterfalls that depend on rain or melting snow.
How Toketee Falls Helps Make Electricity
A company called PacifiCorp built a dam just above the waterfall. This dam helps control and reduce the amount of water flowing over the falls. The dam also created a lake called Toketee Lake.
Before the dam, the entire North Umpqua River flowed over the falls. Now, some of the water is sent through a special pipe called a penstock. This pipe uses the drop of the falls to create hydroelectricity. This means the moving water helps generate power for homes and businesses.
