The name Tallulah, which means fearsome, originally described the waterfalls which used to rage through this part of Georgia. In its tourism heyday, the site was called "the Niagara of the South". But in 1912, Georgia Power dammed the falls to create a hydroelectric facility. The result is the gorge you see today. Two miles long and nearly 1,000 feet deep, Tallulah Gorge is one of the most spectacular canyons in the eastern United States. You can view the gorge from rim trails or get a free permit to explore the gorge floor at Tallulah Gorge State Park.