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The Blackwater River in eastern West Virginia’s
Allegheny Mountains is a true blackwater stream. Tannins (compounds
that precipitate proteins) leak from rotting leaves and vegetation along
the river bands and give a tea-like color to its waters. Ironically
this results in water with exceptional clarity, and the high acidity
also imparted by the tannins makes the water very clean and mercifully
free of mosquitoes and bacteria.
Downstream for the town of Davis, West Virginia the Blackkwater River
plunges 66 feet over the Blackwater Falls down into a gorge. It is in
this lower section the river that Class IV-VI rapids are formed. Here
visitors can enjoy some incredible West Virginia white water rafting.
The Blackwater River passes through sections of the Canaan Valley Resort
and Blackwater Falls State Parks, as well as the Canaan Valley National
Wildlife Refuge. This makes the Blackwater one of the most popular West
Virginia rivers. |
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