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New York Natural Wonders|Nature|On The Water|Road Trips|Waterfalls

There's A Waterfall In New York That Looks A Lot Like Jamaica's Dunn's River Falls, But Hardly Anyone Knows It Exists

By Christy Articola | Published January 26, 2023

No one on the planet would ever confuse Cohoes, New York with the country of Jamaica. They are not alike. There’s nothing wrong with Cohoes, of course, but Jamaica is a Caribbean island paradise, and Cohoes is, well… not that. However, there’s one major attraction in Cohoes that’s similar to one of the most popular attractions in Jamaica, and that’s Cohoes Falls. Read on to learn more about this beautiful waterfall in New York that many don’t even know exists.

The city of Cohoes in Albany County was founded in 1848, but long before that, European settlers and Mohawk people lived in this area. Today, it has a population of about 18,000.

Jamaica is an island in the Caribbean. Christopher Columbus claimed it for Spain in 1494, but before that, the native Taino people lived there. Today, the population of Jamaica is about 2.8 million.

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Cohoes is on the banks of the Mohawk River.

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Jamaica is in the Caribbean Sea. Both of these places have people, houses, businesses, and are on the water, but they are very, very different.

Have you heard of Dunn's River Falls? It's one of Jamaica's most popular tourist attractions. It's 180 feet high and 600 feet long, and tourists love to climb it and take photos.

Some might say that Cohoes Falls looks a little bit like Dunn's River Falls. It's 90 feet high and 1,000 feet wide.

Both of these waterfalls are segmented, terraced, fan-style falls. In most places, the water maintains contact with the rock all the way down.

They both are very impressive to view. The flowing water is also very relaxing to listen to, too.

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Sure, Cohoes Falls isn't surrounded by lush, tropical jungle and you can't expect warm, humid temperatures all year like you can at Dunn's River Falls.

But, Cohoes Falls is spectacular and we're lucky to have it in New York. Even though it's unknown by many, it's easy to view. There's even an overlook with parking.

Plan a trip to Cohoes Falls today! You’ll love everything about this gorgeous waterfall that’s right in your backyard!

If you’re interested in checking out more amazing waterfalls in New York, check out this road trip: The New York Waterfall Road Trip Is Right Here And It’s A Memorable Adventure

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Cohoes Falls, Cohoes, NY 12188, USA