earth/fall
DECEMBER 2012 Providence Canyon State Park, Lumpkin, GA, is a 1,000-acre state park located in southwest Georgia. Providence Canyon, sometimes called Georgia's "Little Grand Canyon," a feature in the park, is considered to be one of the "Seven Natural Wonders of Georgia" (others being Amicalola Falls State Park, Okefenokee Swamp, Radium Springs, Stone Mountain, Tallulah Gorge and Warm Springs). However, Providence Canyon is not a purely natural feature. The massive gullies (the deepest at 150 feet) were caused by erosion due to poor farming practices in the 19th century. But, it is also home to the very rare plumleaf azalea. The park lies on marine sediments. Loamy sand topsoils overlie subsoils including clay in most of the uneroded section. Nankin, cowarts, mobila and orangeburg are the most prominent soils, and the wonderful array of colors in the layers can be viewed here. One of the quirkier attractions of the state park is an abandoned homestead including nearly a dozen rusty, 1950s-era cars and trucks. Due to the environmental damage that removing the vehicles would cause, park officials have decided to leave them alone. (Click on first image for a slideshow to more easily view large images as thumbnails.)