Georgia’s “Little Grand Canyon” is a prime example of mother nature showing us who’s boss!
The mistakes of the past are on clear display two-and-a-half hours southwest of Atlanta. The Providence Canyon has been declared as one of Georgia’s natural wonders, although its origin story isn’t very natural.
This Georgian gem was accidently created by 1800’s settlers and their poor farming practices. By not looking after the soil, erosion occurred and spurred these striking formations of orange and white rock.
During the 1800’s, engineers and farmers united to understand the Georgian farmland and made a mess of things in the process. Plowing deep furrows which overtime just became deeper as the seasons changed, wind blew, and rain fell.
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These furrows became ravines, and the ravines became the canyons that we know today. Although breathtakingly beautiful to look at, once you know the origin story, it’ll haunt every visit.
There are awesome hiking trails throughout that highlight these unusual formations. You may also come across the rare Plumleaf Azalea in its natural habitat. In fact, you should go searching for its gorgeous beauty during its blooming months of July and August.
If you still think this is still a ‘natural wonder’ that’s merely a reaction, you’d be wrong. There’s even 1950s-era vehicles scattered around the place, which were deemed too dangerous to remove.
Natural wonder, or natural blunder?
Travel back in time to the 1800’s, as just stones throw away is the Providence Methodist Church and its cemetery. The church is the original structure from 1959, and the cemetery holds the remains of the early settlers who were probably responsible for Georgia’s “Little Grand Canyon”.
The Providence Canyon State Park has a playground, picnic tables and overnight camping available. There are several hiking trails of varying difficulty. A visitor’s center provides more information on the history of this fascinating manmade natural wonder. It’s located at 8930 Canyon Rd, Lumpkin, GA 31815
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Featured Image: [Sean Pavone via Shutterstock]