Dismals Canyon
| Dismals Canyon | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Rainbow Falls at Dismals Canyon near Phil Campbell in Franklin County, Alabama. | |
  Location in Alabama  Location in United States | |
| Location | Franklin County, Alabama |
| Nearest city | Phil Campbell |
| Coordinates | 34°19′30.65″N 87°46′54.21″W / 34.3251806°N 87.7817250°W |
| Area | 85 acres (34 ha) |
| Website | Official website |
| Designated | May 1974 |
Dismals Canyon is a sandstone gorge near Phil Campbell in Franklin County, Alabama. It was declared a National Natural Landmark in May 1974.[1]
Dismals Canyon is one of only a few places where insects called dismalites (Orfelia fultoni, a distant relative of Arachnocampa) can be found. The larval forms of these flies emit a bright blue-green light to attract food and mates. They cover the canyon wall.[2]
The canyon is home to two waterfalls, Secret Falls and Rainbow Falls, and six natural bridges.
Dismals Canyon is operated commercially as part of an 85-acre (34 ha) nature preserve, and a fee is charged for entry. Night tours are conducted to view the dismalites. Camping is available in both traditional campsites and in cabins.
Historical connections
[edit]Chickasaw Native Americans were held captive in the canyon for two weeks before embarking on a forced journey along the Trail of Tears.
In film
[edit]The location was used to film a segment for the Discovery Channel documentary When Dinosaurs Roamed America. That segment was set in Late Cretaceous New Mexico (Moreno Hill Formation).
References
[edit]
External links
[edit]- Official Site
- Description of discovery of dismalites Archived 2012-02-13 at the Wayback Machine
- Dismalites add sparkle to canyon
References
[edit]- ^ "NPS NNL Summary". Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2013-03-05.
- ^ "Dismals Canyon Website". Archived from the original on 2008-10-21. Retrieved 2008-11-23.