Photos of Cohoes Falls

Cohoes Falls is a waterfall on the Mohawk River shared by the towns of Cohoes and Waterford, New York, United States. Discovered by the indigenous Mohawk tribe, they called the falls Ga-ha-oose, which is believed to mean "The Place of the Falling Canoe." Cohoes local historian Arthur Masten wrote in his 1880 history that the phrase might mean "Potholes in the River," referring to the potholes that appear in the riverbed when it is dry. In the oral tradition of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois), the Cohoes Falls are the site where The Great Peacemaker, also known as Deganawida, performed a feat of supernatural strength, convincing the Mohawk people to become the founders of the Iroquois League of Nations or Confederacy. Some historians believe the Mohawks launched the Confederacy as early as 1142 CE, though other experts report dates ranging from 1450-1650.

I’ve heard of the falls at Cohoes since I went to RPI (1979-1983) but I never managed to go there.  This fall I had a free day before the Homecoming games so I drove the short distance to the falls.  There are two parks with overlooks to the falls.  The falls are most impressive in the spring, but they are still impressive in the fall.