Dismals Canyon is a sandstone gorge near Phil Campbell in

Franklin County, Alabama Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census, the population was 32,113. Its county seat is Russellville. Its name is in honor of Benjamin Franklin, famous statesman, scientist, and printer. It is a ...

. It was declared a

National Natural Landmark The National Natural Landmarks (NNL) Program recognizes and encourages the conservation of outstanding examples of the natural history of the United States. It is the only national natural areas program that identifies and recognizes the best ...

in May 1974. Dismals Canyon is one of only a few places where insects called dismalites ('' Orfelia fultoni'', a distant relative of ''

Arachnocampa ''Arachnocampa'' is a genus of nine fungus gnat species which have a bioluminescent larval stage, akin to the larval stage of glowworm beetles. The species of ''Arachnocampa'' are endemic to Australia and New Zealand, dwelling in caves and grot ...

'') can be found. The larval forms of these flies emit a bright blue-green light to attract food and mates. They cover the canyon wall. The canyon is home to two waterfalls, Secret Falls and Rainbow Falls, and six natural bridges. Dismals Canyon is operated commercially as part of an nature preserve, and a fee is charged for entry. Night tours are conducted to view the dismalites. Camping is available in both traditional campsites and in cabins.

Historical connections

Chickasaw The Chickasaw ( ) are an indigenous people of the Southeastern Woodlands. Their traditional territory was in the Southeastern United States of Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee as well in southwestern Kentucky. Their language is classif ...

Native Americans were held captive in the canyon for two weeks before embarking on a forced journey along the

Trail of Tears The Trail of Tears was an ethnic cleansing and forced displacement of approximately 60,000 people of the " Five Civilized Tribes" between 1830 and 1850 by the United States government. As part of the Indian removal, members of the Cherokee, ...

In film

The location was used to film a segment for the Discovery Channel documentary '' When Dinosaurs Roamed America''. That segment was set in

Late Cretaceous The Late Cretaceous (100.5–66 Ma) is the younger of two epochs into which the Cretaceous Period is divided in the geologic time scale. Rock strata from this epoch form the Upper Cretaceous Series. The Cretaceous is named after ''creta'', ...

New Mexico ) , population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano) , seat = Santa Fe , LargestCity = Albuquerque , LargestMetro = Tiguex , OfficialLang = None , Languages = English, Spanish ( New Mexican), Navajo, Ke ...

( Moreno Hill Formation).

References

External links

Official Site

References

{{authority control National Natural Landmarks in Alabama Protected areas of Franklin County, Alabama Nature reserves in Alabama Landforms of Franklin County, Alabama Canyons and gorges of Alabama