N the very heart of the Kentucky mountains, on the grand old Cumberland river, is a mighty waterfall which has rightly been

styled the "Niagara of the South." The comparison with Niagara is partly borne out in the accompanying photograph but to realize fully the similarity, one must listen to the noise of the waters as they drop straight down for seventy feet and witness the rushing of the nearby rapids. Kentucky holds in store no more interesting sight excepting the Mammoth Cave. On account of its

seclusion less is really known of this waterfall than many others less notable. The nearest approach by train is Cumberland Falls station, thirteen miles dis

tant.

The upper Cumberland valley lies between the Cumberland mountains and the Pine mountains in Kentucky, the Cumberland mountains being on the border between Kentucky and Virginia. The Black and Brush peaks rise from the valley to a greater height than either of the ranges. Cumberland Gap is situated at the point where Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia join. On the opposite side

of the valley from Cumberland Gap, the Cumberland river cuts through the Pine mountains at Pine Gap and from this point soon thereafter reaches Cumberland Falls.

The main falls are three hundred and fifty feet wide in high water and about one hundred and forty feet in medium stage. To be exact about the main drop of these falls, it is just sixty-eight feet. Two hundred feet above there is another drop of twelve feet. The pool below the main falls is seventy-five feet in depth.

Engineers who have investigated the possibilities of developing the water power of the "Niagara of the South" estimate that there would be 20,000 horse-power available all the year round and 40,000 horsepower during the spring and summer months.