Arizona Falls ~ a little field trip

When I read the list for Rinda's photo hunt I wasn't sure I'd be able to find a waterfall. I mean, I live in a big ol' city and when I think "waterfall" my mind goes to something more natural - water falling down a beautiful mountainside into a river below...

#18 - a waterfall

Rinda's 2014 Summertime Photography Scavenger Hunt

I had a few suggestions from local friends with recommendations for local parks with manmade waterfalls and I figured I'd end up at one of those. That is, until Carrie came across this list for "100 Ways to Survive 100 Degree Weather in Arizona." That's how we found out about Arizona Falls.

Arizona Falls is operated by our local power provider, Salt River Project (SRP). It's a 750-kilowatt hydroelectric facility that provides power to 150 homes annually. I loved learning about the history of this place.

Back in the late 1800's, this was the location of a natural 20' drop in the Arizona canal. Locals used to gather here for recreational purposes and in 1902 it became Arizona's first hydroelectric plant.

The Phoenix Arts Commission is responsible for rebuilding this site, and it was "reopened in 2003 as a restored hydroelectric plant and neighborhood gathering place where visitors can learn, interact and reflect. The new Arizona Falls combines art, history and technology to generate clean electricity from the canal's waterfall." {source}

Carrie and I walked around the site, snapping photos and enjoying the novelty of the place. The temperature was noticeably cooler from inside the structure, and the roaring sound of the falls made it necessary to shout to hear each other. It was awesome!

You can read more about the history of Arizona Falls (and where it's located) by clicking here.

 

And you can check out the entire list of items for

Rinda's Summertime Photography Scavenger Hunt by clicking here.