The title of "Waterfall Capital of the United States" is most frequently and officially claimed by Transylvania County, North Carolina. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, this region is home to over 250 waterfalls within a relatively small geographic area, largely due to its high annual rainfall and dramatic elevation changes. Famous sites include Looking Glass Falls, Whitewater Falls (one of the highest in the Eastern U.S.), and Sliding Rock, a natural water slide. Another strong contender often mentioned is Ithaca, New York, famous for the slogan "Ithaca is Gorges," which boasts over 150 waterfalls within ten miles of its downtown, including the massive Taughannock Falls. While regions like the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon or the Silver Falls State Park also have high concentrations, Transylvania County's sheer density and variety of accessible falls across Pisgah National Forest and DuPont State Recreational Forest make it the primary holder of the "capital" designation in modern travel lore.