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High Water!
Like you, thousands of visitors come to enjoy this scenic spot unaware of the devastating flood potential.
As you stand on this imposing precipice, imagine the river raging through this narrow, mile-long gorge, gathering speed as it rises, at times engulfing this ledge and inundating the surrounding landscape.
What causes the Potomac to overflow these cliffs? Major water events occurring in the watershed upstream, such as severe storms or significant snow melts accompanied by heavy rains, cause the river to rise swiftly. These converging waters, constricted by this natural funnel, force the water to rapidly back up and fill the gorge in front of you.
What is the Mather Gorge?
It is a gorge within a gorge. This mile-long narrows, bounded by steep rocky cliffs and covered sparsely with vegetation, lies within the 15-mile long Potomac River Gorge.
Different theories exist about the formation of the Mather Gorge. However, through the millennia and continuing today, the true sculptor of these gnarled rock faces is the erosional force of the powerful Potomac River. |