Nature and History–Minnehaha Falls

Minnehaha Falls is a fabulous fifty foot tall waterfall that is found on Minnehaha creek, a rather short stream that flows through the city of Minneapolis before entering the Mississippi River. Like much of the geology of the northern Great Plains, Minnehaha Falls owes its origin to erosion caused by glaciation that occurred as the result of the movement of ice sheets during the last ice age.

 While Minnehaha Falls has always been famous among the locals to the area, the falls first received widespread national attention when the poem The Song of Hiawatha by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was published in 1855. It is interesting to note that Longfellow himself never actually visited Minnehaha Falls–he relied exclusively on second hand accounts and written descriptions.

 The behavior and appearance of Minnehaha Falls varies dramatically depending on the time of the year. During the rainy summer months, the falls can be incredibly vigorous with a magnificent cascade that tumbles furiously over the falls. During the drier parts of the year the falls may dry completely. Perhaps the most spectacular manifestation of the falls occurs during the winter months when the harsh winter temperatures of Minnesota cause the water to freeze in a magnificent display of crystalline beauty.

 The park itself is divided into a manicured upper section above the falls and a largely rustic area below the falls. With activities that range from peaceful picnicking to vigorous hiking, Minnehaha Park has something that is sure to attract any outdoor enthusiast.