Editing Macon County, North Carolina (section)

==Geography==
{{maplink|frame=yes|zoom=8|id=Q507575|type=shape-inverse|text=Interactive map of Macon County}}
[[File:Aerial view of downtown Franklin, North Carolina, in Macon County 12.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of Franklin]]
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|519.67|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|515.58|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|4.09|sqmi}} (0.79%) is water.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 23, 2022 |title=2020 County Gazetteer Files – North Carolina |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_counties_37.txt |access-date=September 9, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>

Of the land in Macon County, {{convert|239.31|sqmi|km2|0}} (46.1%) are federal lands that lie within the [[Nantahala National Forest]] and are administered by the [[United States Forest Service]]. Of the {{convert|239.31|sqmi|km2|0}} of USFS land, {{convert|71.56|sqmi|km2|0}} lie in the Highlands Ranger District and the remaining {{convert|167.75|sqmi|km2|0}} lie in the Wayah Ranger District.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ltlt.org/fp02172006.html |title=USFS lands may hit the auction block |access-date=February 26, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705020808/http://ltlt.org/fp02172006.html |archive-date=July 5, 2008  }} Land Trust for the Little Tennessee</ref>  The county's largest natural water supply is the [[Cullasaja River]]. The [[Nantahala River]] also runs through the county, and flows into the [[Little Tennessee River]]. The [[Appalachian Trail]] winds through the western end of Macon County.

As of 2024, Macon County has 21,973 acres devoted to agriculture, with a total of 346 farms.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Foster |first=Randy |date=2024-10-15 |title=County facing challenges to local economy |url=https://www.cherokeescout.com/index.php/local-newsletter/county-facing-challenges-local-economy |access-date=2024-10-17 |work=[[Cherokee Scout]] |pages=1A,8A}}</ref>

===National protected areas===
* [[Appalachian Trail]] (part)
* [[Ellicott Rock Wilderness]] (part)
* [[Nantahala National Forest]] (part)

===State and local protected areas/sites===
{{See also|Category:Protected areas of Macon County, North Carolina}}
* [[Euchella Site]]
* [[Fires Creek|Fires Creek Wildlife Management Area]] (part)<ref name="NCWRC Game Lands"/>
* [[Nantahala National Forest Game Land]] (part)<ref name="NCWRC Game Lands">{{Cite web |title=NCWRC Game Lands |url=https://www.ncpaws.org/ncwrcmaps/gamelands |access-date=2023-03-30 |website=www.ncpaws.org}}</ref>
* [[Needmore Game Land]] (part)<ref name="NCWRC Game Lands"/>
* [[Tessentee Bottomland Preserve]]

===Waterfalls===
====Cullasaja Falls====
{{main|Cullasaja Falls}}
'''Cullasaja Falls''' is a [[waterfall]] in Southwestern [[North Carolina]] east of [[Franklin, North Carolina|Franklin]]. The waterfall is located on the [[Cullasaja River]] in the [[Nantahala National Forest]] and is part of the [[Mountain Waters Scenic Byway]].  ''Cullasaja'' comes from a Cherokee word meaning "honey locust place."  The falls is the last major waterfall on the Cullasaja River.<ref name="Kevin Adams Book">Kevin Adams, ''North Carolina Waterfalls'', p. 470</ref>  The falls is a long cascade over the course of {{convert|0.2|mi|m|sigfig=1}}. The height of the falls is given as {{convert|200|ft|m|abbr=on}} in Kevin Adams' book, North Carolina Waterfalls<ref name="Kevin Adams Book" /> and {{convert|250|ft|m|abbr=on}} by NCWaterfalls.com.<ref name="NC Waterfalls Height">[http://www.ncwaterfalls.com/cull1.htm NCWaterfalls.com]</ref>  Google Earth gives a height (based on the elevation of the water at the top of the falls and the elevation of the plunge pool at the bottom of the falls) of {{convert|137|ft|m|abbr=on}}.

The falls can be glimpsed from vehicles on the road; however, getting a better view of the falls is not easy. The falls are located beside of a series of blind curves on [[U.S. Highway 64|Highway 64]] with sheer rock cliffs above and below the road. There is only one small pull-off near the falls, but walking on the road puts visitors in danger of being hit by a passing vehicle. This water fall is just up the road of the Cullasaja River RV Park.

====Dry Falls====
{{main|Dry Falls (Macon County)}}
'''Dry Falls''', also known as Upper Cullasaja Falls, is a {{convert|65|ft|m|adj=on}} [[waterfall]] located in the [[Nantahala National Forest]], northwest of [[Highlands, North Carolina]]. Dry Falls flows on the [[Cullasaja River]] through the Nantahala National Forest. It is part of a series of waterfalls on an {{convert|8.7|mi|km|adj=on}} stretch of the river that eventually ends with [[Cullasaja Falls]]. Dry Falls flows over an overhanging bluff that allows visitors to walk up under the falls and remain relatively dry when the water flow is low, hence its name. Visitors will get wet if the water flow is high. The falls has been called Dry Falls for a long time, but has also been known by such names as High Falls, Pitcher Falls, and Cullasaja Falls.<ref name="Adams Book">Kevin Adams, ''North Carolina Waterfalls'', p. 467</ref>

Dry Falls is located on the side of [[U.S. Highway 64]] {{convert|15.7|mi|km|0}} southeast of [[Franklin, North Carolina]] and {{convert|3.1|mi|km|0}} north of [[Highlands, North Carolina]]. There is a parking area on the side of the road, where visitors can park before walking the short path with stairs to the falls. Significant improvements to the parking area and trail were completed by the [[United States Forest Service]] in 2009.

====Bridal Veil Falls====
{{main|Bridal Veil Falls (Macon County)}}
'''Bridal Veil Falls''' is a {{convert|45|ft|m|adj=on}} [[waterfall]] located in the [[Nantahala National Forest]], southeast of [[Franklin, North Carolina|Franklin]]. With a short curve of roadway located behind the falls, it has the distinction of being the only waterfall in the state that one can drive a vehicle under. Bridal Veil Falls flows on a tributary of the [[Cullasaja River]] through the Nantahala National Forest. The falls flows over an overhanging bluff; visitors may walk behind the falls and remain dry when the water flow is low. During periods of drought, the stream may nearly dry up, though visitors will get wet if the water flow is moderate or high. To avoid this, visitors may drive behind the falls.

Bridal Veil Falls is located on the side of [[U.S. Highway 64]] {{convert|16.5|mi|km|0}} southeast of [[Franklin, North Carolina|Franklin]] and {{convert|2.3|mi|km|0}} north of [[Highlands, North Carolina|Highlands]]. Highway 64 originally used the curve of roadway behind the falls exclusively so that all traffic went behind them; however, this caused problems with [[ice|icing]] of the roadway during freezing weather. Hwy. 64 has since been re-routed around the front of the falls. There is a parking area on the side of the road, where visitors can park and view the falls as well. In 2003, a massive boulder slid off the left side of the falls, blocking that side of the drive-under completely. However, in July 2007, that boulder was removed by a local developer. The road under the falls is now free of obstruction.<ref name="NC Waterfalls Bridal Veil">[http://www.ncwaterfalls.com/bridal_veil1.htm NCWaterfalls.com Bridal Veil Falls]</ref>

====Quarry Falls====
{{main|Quarry Falls (Macon County)}}
'''Quarry Falls''' is a small [[waterfall]] (or perhaps large rapid in high water) located beside US Hwy. 64 southeast of Franklin. Known to locals as "Bust Your Butt," it is best known for the large, deep pool at the bottom, and is a popular place for swimming during warm weather.

===Major water bodies===
* [[Beech Creek (North Carolina)|Beech Creek]]
* [[Blazed Creek (North Carolina)|Blazed Creek]]
* [[Buck Creek (North Carolina)|Buck Creek]]
* [[Cartoogechaye Creek (North Carolina)|Cartoogechaye Creek]]
* [[Chattooga River]]
* [[Cullasaja River]]
* [[Little Laurel Creek (North Carolina)|Little Laurel Creek]]
* [[Little Tennessee River]]
* [[Middle Creek (North Carolina)|Middle Creek]]
* [[Nantahala Lake]]
* [[Nantahala River]]
* [[Queens Creek (North Carolina)|Queens Creek]]
* [[Tallulah River]]
* [[Tessentee Creek (North Carolina)|Tessentee Creek]]

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Swain County, North Carolina|Swain County]] – north
* [[Jackson County, North Carolina|Jackson County]] – east
* [[Oconee County, South Carolina]] – southeast
* [[Rabun County, Georgia]] – south
* [[Clay County, North Carolina|Clay County]] – southwest
* [[Cherokee County, North Carolina|Cherokee County]] – west
* [[Graham County, North Carolina|Graham County]] – northwest

===Major highways===
* {{Jct|state=NC|US|23}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|US|64}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|US-Truck|64|dab1=Franklin–Hendersonville}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|US|441}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|US-Bus|441|dab1=Franklin}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|28}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|106}}

===Major infrastructure===
* [[Macon County Airport]]