The Genesee River flows north through the roughly 17 miles of Letchworth State Park, renowned as “The Grand Canyon of the East.” Under normal circumstances, the river is alternately calm and fast flowing, with three large waterfalls as well as numerous smaller ones, at times flanked by cliffs of over 500 feet.
The flooding of 1972 caused the Genesee River to rise high above its usual height and flow with abnormal ferocity. The Mount Morris Dam is built at the north end of Letchworth State Park. It barely held the flood at bay, protecting Rochester in the process. These pictures display the incredible force the dam withstood.
The Genesee River in Letchworth State Park. Courtesy of the New York State Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
This photograph shows the picturesque Letchworth Middle Falls. Many of the minor waterfalls throughout Letchworth State Park are only "ephemeral" falls, named so because they only appear after rainfall or with seasonal snow melt.
View of the Genesee River at the Middle Falls in Letchworth State Park during the Flood of 1972. Courtesy of SUNY Geneseo.
This view of the same Middle Falls was taken on June 23, 1972.
View of the Genesee River near the Lower Falls in Letchworth State Park during the Flood of 1972. Courtesy of SUNY Geneseo.
This photograph shows the Genesee River near the Lower Falls in Letchworth State Park during the Flood of 1972. The photograph was taken on June 23, 1972.
View of the Genesee River rushing over the Lower Falls Bridge in Letchworth State Park during the Flood of 1972. Courtesy of SUNY Geneseo.
This view shows the force of the Genesee River as it rushed over the Lower Falls Bridge.
View of the Genesee River near the Upper Falls in Letchworth State Park during the Flood of 1972. Courtesy of SUNY Geneseo.
This photograph shows the water rushing around the trestles holding up the train bridge spanning the Genesee River.