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5 Beautiful Pictures Of This Tragic Place in Superior, Arizona

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Apache Leap has a sordid history. This beautiful natural landmark in Superior, Arizona may have a tragic history, but it still has its charm. Check out these beautiful pictures and historic facts about this unique cliff in Superior.

1) Check Out This Beautiful Cliff Side in Superior, Arizona

static.panoramio.com
static.panoramio.com

This particular drop lies at the foot of the Pinal Mountains, and it has a name – Apache Leap. Though a casual traveler passing through might see this breathtaking edge and admire it’s beauty only to continue along their journey, there’s a whole story behind this landmark. Unfortunately, it’s a tragic one.

2) Apache Leap Was Named Back in the 1800s

farm8.staticflickr.com
farm8.staticflickr.com

At this time, the United States was still in turmoil. The United States was fighting for territorial control, but the Native Americans were fighting their own, separate battle.  Unfortunately, this put them at odds often. By the 1870’s, the United States’ relationship with some Native American tribes, specifically the Apaches, was on thin ice.

3) The Military Tried to Control the Apache Indians

Flickr User Rimgaudas Vidziunas
Flickr User Rimgaudas Vidziunas

Seeking the upper hand, they set up a number of military outposts. Camp Pinal was one of these outposts, and it was located in what is modern-day Superior. Legend has it that the soldiers of this camp chose to offensively attack a nearby band of seventy-five Apache warriors. As the military troops gained on the Apache Indians, they retreated to the west, until they found themselves with the military behind them and this well-known cliff in front of them.

4) The Apache Are a Very Proud Tribe

Flickr User Lori Gallego
Flickr User Lori Gallego

With no escape in sight, the only options available to these seventy-five warriors were to accept defeat and surrender, which would likely lead to their murder, or to jump. As you might be able to guess, these men had too much pride to surrender. Each of the men jumped off the edge of the cliff — an eight hundred-foot fall that none of them would survive. From this time forward, the cliff edge jutting up against the sky came to be known as Apache Leap.

5) This Beautiful Vista Means a lot More to Those Who Know Its History

Flickr User tom janca
Flickr User tom janca

As the story goes, when the rest of the tribe heard of the terrible tragedy, they rushed to the cliff. Many wives and mothers were overcome with grief over the needless loss of life. In the area today it is possible to find dark, semi-translucent obsidian pebbles which are said to be the tears that these women cried. They soaked into the earth, hardened, and are now referred to as Apache Tears. They’re a continual reminder that this beautiful place has a tragic history behind it.

Cheyenne Reed was born and raised in Ohio. She recently relocated to rural Wyoming to try out working at an exclusive guest ranch. She graduated from Kent State University with an English degree, and most enjoys writing about travel. If she has free time, you may run into her anywhere, because she is always itching to explore new places. Her personal motto is, "Any day can be an adventure if you make it one!"

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