Falls of the Ohio

The Falls of the Ohio are a series of rapids and waterfalls located at Louisville, Kentucky, where the Ohio River descends approximately 24 feet (7 meters) over a distance of 2.5 miles (4 km). These falls historically presented a significant hazard to navigation on the river. Locks have been constructed to manage this descent and allow for continuous river traffic. The Ohio River itself is a major waterway in the eastern United States, formed by the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers and flowing into the Mississippi River. The Kentucky River is a tributary of the Ohio River, navigable by locks along its course.12