Editing Cumberland Falls (section)

===Formation===
[[File:USGS Cumberland Falls area map (cropped) (cropped).png|thumb|upright=1.5|Detail of a [[USGS]] topographical map showing Cumberland Falls, the wide [[plunge pool]] immediately downstream (northward), as well as [[Eagle Falls (Kentucky)|Eagle Falls]] on the west bank, and the [[rapids]] of Center Rock further downstream]]
It is believed that Cumberland Falls originated at the [[Pottsville Escarpment]], near modern-day [[Burnside, Kentucky]], and retreated to its current location approximately {{convert|45|mi}} upstream. In its retreat, the falls cut what is now the Cumberland River gorge, reaching depths in places of up to {{convert|400|ft}}.<ref name="mc">{{cite web|last1=McGrain|first1=Preston|title=Geology of the Cumberland Falls State Park Area|url=http://kgs.uky.edu/kgsweb/olops/pub/kgs/KGS9SP7.pdf|publisher=Kentucky Geological Survey|access-date=5 November 2017|date=1955}}</ref>{{rp|11}}<ref name="enc">{{cite book|last1=Kleber|first1=John E.|title=The Kentucky Encyclopedia|date=Jan 13, 2015|publisher=[[University Press of Kentucky]]|isbn=9780813117720|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CcceBgAAQBAJ|access-date=5 November 2017}}</ref> At its original location, the falls was taller than it is currently, and has lost height due to erosion as it moved upstream. It also carried a greater volume of water originally, because two major [[tributaries]], the [[Laurel River]] and the [[Rockcastle River]], both lie between the modern day location and the escarpment.<ref name="mc"/>{{rp|19}} The erosion of the underlying rock, and movement of the falls downward in height, and upstream in location will continue until the falls eventually disappears, and the river again becomes [[Stream gradient|smoothly graded]].<ref name="mc"/>{{rp|18–9}}