Kautz Creek Falls
Encyclopedia
Kautz Creek Falls is a waterfall
on Kautz Creek
in the Mount Rainier National Park
in the state of Washington. It was formed when the Kautz Glacier
retreated in the last 50 years, creating a series of long and slender cascades totaling about 400 feet (121.9 m) in height down a tall glacial cliff, with a highest drop of 150 feet (45.7 m). The falls consist of two parts, each with two distinct tiers. One of these parts flows from the upper lobe of the Kautz Glacier and disappears under the lower lobe. The water flowing over this stage is generally clear. As the water passes underneath the lower lobe, however; it has a muddy appearance caused by glacial moraine
, which explains the muddy appearance of Kautz Creek.
On Pearl Creek (a sub-tributary of Kautz Creek) a few miles to the west, is Pearl Falls
.
Waterfall
A waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...
on Kautz Creek
Kautz Creek
Kautz Creek is a tributary of the Nisqually River, flowing from the Kautz Glacier, with its watershed in the Mount Rainier National Park of Washington. It drains southwest from Mount Rainier for about before it joins the Nisqually River near Mount Rainier Highway. It is notable for being a severe...
in the Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier National Park is a United States National Park located in southeast Pierce County and northeast Lewis County in Washington state. It was one of the US's earliest National Parks, having been established on March 2, 1899 as the fifth national park in the United States. The park contains...
in the state of Washington. It was formed when the Kautz Glacier
Kautz Glacier
The Kautz Glacier is a narrow glacier on the southern flank of Mount Rainier in Washington. Named for August Kautz, who is sometimes credited for the first ascent of Mount Rainier, covers and contains 7.8 billion ft3 of ice. Upper Kautz Glacier extends south from the summit ice cap to Kautz Ice...
retreated in the last 50 years, creating a series of long and slender cascades totaling about 400 feet (121.9 m) in height down a tall glacial cliff, with a highest drop of 150 feet (45.7 m). The falls consist of two parts, each with two distinct tiers. One of these parts flows from the upper lobe of the Kautz Glacier and disappears under the lower lobe. The water flowing over this stage is generally clear. As the water passes underneath the lower lobe, however; it has a muddy appearance caused by glacial moraine
Moraine
A moraine is any glacially formed accumulation of unconsolidated glacial debris which can occur in currently glaciated and formerly glaciated regions, such as those areas acted upon by a past glacial maximum. This debris may have been plucked off a valley floor as a glacier advanced or it may have...
, which explains the muddy appearance of Kautz Creek.
On Pearl Creek (a sub-tributary of Kautz Creek) a few miles to the west, is Pearl Falls
Pearl Falls
Pearl Falls is one of the highest waterfalls in Mount Rainier National Park in the U.S. state of Washington. It is fed by the glacial Pearl Creek, occurring about halfway along the creek's course....
.