Location: Burney Falls, McArthur-Burney Falls State Park, Shasta County, CA
Created 05/19/18 05:07:42 pm
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Lens: EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM
Aperture: f/7.1 ; .5 to 1/80 sec; ISO 100; HDR pano; 130 shots (43x3); stitched in Photoshop
Paper: Xpozer
The 129-foot Burney Falls, which is not the highest or largest waterfall in the state, could possibly be the most beautiful. The year-round falls are formed by melting snow from Burney Mountain, which travels through underground streams before hitting solid rock and flowing back to the surface. Each day, more than 100 million gallons of water plunge over the falls. In addition to the streamflow, water comes from springs joining to create a mist-filled basin. The falls were a sacred place for the Pit River Indian Tribe, who have held ceremonial rituals here for thousands of years. Burney Falls was named after pioneer settler Samuel Burney who lived in the area during the 1850’s. Descendants purchased the property and presented it as a gift to the state in the 1920’s. Teddy Roosevelt once described Burney Falls as the “eighth wonder of the world”.
(fun fact: Albert Einstein famously stated: “Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understands it earns it... he who doesn't... pays it.”)
Large trout live in its pools, which are limited to seasonal fishing with bait-less, barbless hooks, or artificial flies. Trout over 14” are illegal to keep. The couple in the canoe were just cruising along, and must have been an in utter astonishment. The falls simply exude so much energy, they make you speechless. They leave us in a state of awe. Truly inspiring.
