What is the color of the Tahquamenon River?

Because the headwaters of the river are located in a boreal wetland that is rich in cedar, spruce and hemlock trees, the river's waters carry a significant amount of tannin in solution (i.e., it is a blackwater river), and are often brown or golden-brown in color.



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The Tahquamenon Falls are actually two different waterfalls on the Tahquamenon River. The water is notably brown in color because of tannins that are leached from the cedar swamps which the river drains. The upper falls are more than 200 feet across and drop approximately 48 feet.

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Locals Call it “Root Beer Falls” This color originates from the tannins that leach from the cedar swamp at the start of the Tahquamenon River. You might not think of walking “down” to a massive waterfall, but at the Upper Tahquamenon Falls, you have to walk down just 94 steps to reach the spectacular view.

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The Tahquamenon river was made famous in the Longfellow poem Hiawatha. According to Indian lore, the origin of the name Tahquamenon is attributed to the water's amber color, which is the result of leaching of tanic acid from the cedar and hemlock swamps that feed the river.

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The river cuts through sandstones, limestones and some dolostones. But the culprit for the beautiful blue is the limestone! Limestone is composed primarily of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and is white in color. As the river breaks down this rock into tiny crystals, these crystals will get mixed up into the water.

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