No one knows for sure how many places in Missouri are known as Lovers Leap; Mark Twain once wrote that there were at least 50 such high bluffs up and down the Mississippi River.

At least eight Missouri places known as Lovers Leap are identifiable geologic formations, according to authors Thomas R. Beveridge and Jerry D. Vineyard in their book, "Geologic Wonders and Curiosities of Missouri":

HANNIBAL: In Marion County on the southeast edge of Hannibal, now a city park where the river view is spectacular. "The truly adventurous may walk out onto the Burlington Limestone promontory especially designed to solve unrequited love problems. Concern has been expressed regarding the stability of this promontory; thus, the prospective leaper should exercise due caution." More details here.

CAMDENTON: Actually five miles north of Camdenton at the north end of Lake of the Ozarks Road 5-89. "The creation of Lake of the Ozarks has reduced the efficacy of Lovers Leap north of Camdenton," the book says, "but 120 feet of relief still remains above the lake surface to supply a tolerable quota of free fall."

CLINTON: On the western edge of town, on the west end of Water Street, "Pennsylvanian shales capped by a resistant sandstone result in a bluff which rises about 50 feet above Town Creek and faces toward the setting sun."

FULTON: Just south of East 5th Street, just east of the U.S. 54 Business traffic light. "Leaping lovers in Fulton have some chance of survival because this urban bluff is only a 60-foot one ... a major disadvantage of this Lovers Leap would be the low flow of Stinson Creek, the danger of falling short of the stream, and the possible urban pollution which would tend to take some of the romance out of a histrionic leap."

HA HA TONKA: Near Camdenton, another drop distance made shorter by creation of Lake of the Ozarks, where "the leaper (or leapress) has nearly 250 feet of freeboard ... the only available lore indicates that the Osage Indian Princess Niangua was the heroine of this legend."

RIPLEY COUNTY: On the south side of the Current River near Deer Leap Recreation Area. "This Lovers Leap is not appropriate for those who can't swim, because the Current River makes a direct frontal assault on the base of the bluff and is thereby directed 90 degrees eastward. However, the view (last, in the case of despondent lovers) is exceptional because it affords a view of Deer Leap across the river and another peculiar feature called Pigs Ankle, a slough ..."

SILOAM SPRINGS: In Howell County, three miles northeast of Siloam Springs by way of Highway 14 and Route AP. The authors didn't visit this leap, relying on local legend, a firsthand account from a University of Missouri-Rolla geology major and a topographic map showing a 70-foot bluff on the north side of Kenyon Hollow.

WATERL": On the Fox River in Clark County, three miles north of Kahoka: A complicated twist on the Indian lore, with two Indian men fighting over a maiden and one taking the 70-foot plunge by force. The maiden married the fellow still standing, only to eventually become the victim of his drunken beatings, which drove her to jump over the bluff, too.