Minnehaha Creek travels about 22 miles from
Lake Minnetonka before falling over the 53 foot drop of Minnehaha Falls
(1)
and entering the Mississippi river just below Lock and Dam Number
1.
The Falls are in Minnehaha Park, part of the Minneapolis Parks
System.
Parking is easy (and only $1.00) and entrance to the park is free.
The cause of the falls, as the cause
of the St. Anthony Falls further up stream as well as many other water
falls, is more erosion resistant rock over easily eroded rock. In
the case of Minnehaha the upper layers of rock are limestone and shale
while the underlying rock is sandstone. By this time you should
be
able to see the line that differentiates the shale from the sandstone
in
these photos. If you go to the park you will be able to see some
of the limestone above the creek bed that is made of shale.
1. Minnehaha Park Visitor Guide, Minneapolis
Parks
General Information.
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