from Burgess Falls, and Taylor Creek and Dry Creek, which are part of the Center Hill Lake backwaters. Geology The river flows primarily across the Eastern Highland Rim, a region of rolling terrain underlain by limestone strata and dissected by deep erosional valleys. Downstream from Burgess Falls Dam, the river enters a gorge underlain by siliceous Mississippian limestone that contains nodules of mineral quartz, making it resistant to erosion, allowing the development of the gorge's three waterfalls. At Burgess Falls, the river spills from an overhang of the resistant Mississippian rock to a plungepool underlain by older Ordovician rock. A belt of Devonian period shale divides the Mississippian and Ordovician formations. Window Cliff, a formation that includes several natural arches overlooking a waterfall, lies along a bend of Cane Creek just upstream from its confluence with the Falling Water River. Fancher Falls, an waterfall, is located along Taylor Creek, near its confluence with the Falling Water River. History The Falling Water River was harnessed to power gristmills during the 19th century. In 1921, the City of Cookeville began building Burgess Falls Dam to supply the city with electrical power. In late June 1928, a massive flood along the river caused part of the dam to collapse, and destroyed the powerhouse downstream. The dam was rebuilt, and continued supplying the city with electricity until 1944, when the city started purchasing electricity from the Tennessee Valley Authority. Cookeville built the City Lake Dam in 1946 to provide the city with a steady source of water. Center Hill Dam was completed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1948. Recreation Burgess Falls State Park and a state natural area protect the areas around Burgess Falls and Burgess Falls Lake. Burgess Falls Dam is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Cookeville Dock, located off State Highway 135, and the Corps of Engineers's Johnson Chapel Recreation Area, located off Sparta Highway (Highway 70), provide access to the Center Hill Lake section of the river. A primitive camp ground known as Cane Hollow is located off Highway 135, downstream from Burgess Falls. The City of Cookeville maintains a park along City Lake just off Bridgeway Drive. The park includes a boat ramp. See also Calfkiller River List of rivers of Tennessee References External links Center Hill Lake Burgress Falls State Park Rivers of Tennessee Rivers of Putnam County, Tennessee Rivers of White