Although the Tallulah Falls dome exhibits little topographic distinction from surrounding terrain, it shows clearly on geologic maps as a nearly circular structure of impure quartzite outlined by gneisses and schists. Apparently uplifted during assembly of Pangea, The Tallullah Falls dome is one of several domal structures in northeast Georgia and western North Carolina. Many small ultramafic outcrops are exposed around the dome, but none within it. The Brevard fault zone passes just southeast of the dome; the Dahlonega gold belt passes closely northwest. Like many features in Blue Ridge and Piedmont Georgia, origin of the Tallulah Falls dome is not clearly understood.
Lying in northeast Georgia's Rabun and Habersham counties, the Tallulah Falls dome is dissected by the Tallulah River flowing southeast to join the Chattooga River, forming a main tributary of the Savannah River. Like the Chattahoochee River farther to the southwest, the Chattooga flows southwest, following the Brevard fault zone, defining Georgia's northernmost border with South Carolina. Where the Chattooga meets the Tallulah, they turn southeast, becoming the Tugaloo River. Evidently, both the Chattooga and Tallulah were once Chattahoochee tributaries until captured by the Tugaloo/Savannah.
Although the dome's namesake falls lie beneath one of many lakes (Rabun, Burton, etc.) impounding the Tallulah River, Tallulah Gorge below Tallulah Falls dam remains a stirring sight. Accessible by a steep foot trail, sections of the narrow gorge look like a dramatic western canyon.
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