Great Falls of the Potomac River
AA-2026-160FDE
On the image
Someone once decided that the most effective way to experience nature's rugged grandeur was to stand some distance away and capture it with a machine that made tiny light patterns. Here, the Potomac River obligingly provides rushing water over ancient rock, perfect for this specific human endeavour.
The rocks themselves, sculpted by millennia of erosion, continue their slow, geologic work, seemingly unaware of their role as a scenic backdrop. The powerful current churns around them, indifferent to the aesthetic principles of human photographers.
This entire scene suggests a popular natural landmark, where the goal was often to prove one had been there, rather than just simply *being* there. The river, predictably, does not care either way.
The historian's note
This image depicts the Great Falls of the Potomac River, a series of rapids and waterfalls on the Potomac River, located approximately 14 miles (23 km) upstream from Washington, D.C., in both Maryland and Virginia. The area forms part of the Mather Gorge, characterised by steep, jagged rocks of the Piedmont geologic province.
The falls and gorge are a result of the Potomac River cutting through a resistant bedrock formation, creating a dramatic landscape with a total drop of 76 feet (23 m) over a distance of less than a mile. The area has been a natural attraction for centuries and was designated a national park site, Great Falls Park, on both the Maryland and Virginia sides.
During the 1970s, Great Falls remained a popular destination for recreation, offering opportunities for hiking, whitewater sports, and scenic observation. The distinctive geological formations and powerful flow of the river make it a significant natural landmark in the Mid-Atlantic region.
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Great Falls of the Potomac River, 1970s. 1970–1979. Archive & Atlas, Historical Image Library, AA-2026-160FDE. https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/great-falls-of-the-potomac-river-1970s.
@misc{aaAA2026160FDE,
title = {Great Falls of the Potomac River, 1970s},
year = {1970–1979},
howpublished = {Archive \& Atlas, Historical Image Library},
note = {Accession AA-2026-160FDE},
url = {https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/great-falls-of-the-potomac-river-1970s}
}TY - ART TI - Great Falls of the Potomac River, 1970s PY - 1970–1979 PB - Archive & Atlas, Historical Image Library AN - AA-2026-160FDE UR - https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/great-falls-of-the-potomac-river-1970s ER -
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