Columbia River Gorge
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Columbia River Gorge is a canyon of the Columbia River in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Up to 4,000 feet (1,300 m) deep, the canyon stretches for over 80 miles (130 km) as the river winds westward through the Cascade Range forming the boundary between the State of Washington to the north and Oregon to the south. The Columbia Gorge American Viticultural Area is located in both states.
The gorge is the only water connection between the Columbia River Plateau and the Pacific Ocean. Extending roughly from the confluence of the Columbia with the Deschutes River down to eastern reaches of the Portland metropolitan area, the gorge furnishes the only navigable route through the Cascades. Shipping was greatly simplified after Bonneville Dam and The Dalles Dam submerged the gorge's major rapids. In 1805, the route was used by the Lewis and Clark Expedition to reach the Pacific.
The gorge today holds federally protected status as a National Scenic Area and is a popular recreational destination.
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[edit] History
The Columbia River Gorge began forming as far back as the Miocene Era, (roughly 12 - 17 million years ago), and continued to take shape through the Pleistocene era, (700,000 - 2 million years ago). During this period the Cascades Range was forming, which slowly moved the Columbia River's delta about 100 miles north to its current location.[1]
Although the river slowly eroded the land over this period of time, the most drastic changes took place at the end of the last ice age when the Missoula Floods cut the steep, dramatic walls that exist today. This quick erosion left many layers of volcanic rock exposed.[1]
[edit] Description
The western gorge is dominated by conifers, Bigleaf Maple, Cottonwood, Oregon Ash, and Vine Maple.[citation needed] The eastern gorge is home to Bigleaf Maple and Garry Oak.[citation needed] The wide range of elevation and precipitation in the gorge creates a diverse collection of ecosystems from the temperate rain forest at Oneonta Gorge (with an average annual precipitation of 75 inches [1,900 mm]) to the Celilo grasslands (with average annual precipitation 12 inches [300 mm]).[citation needed] A large variety of endemic wildflowers thrives throughout the gorge.[citation needed]
The gorge has supported human habitation for over 13,000 years. Evidence of the Folsom and Marmes people, who crossed the Bering land bridge from Asia, were found in archaeological digs. Excavations near Celilo Falls, a few miles east of The Dalles, show humans have occupied this ideal salmon-fishing site for more than 10,000 years.[citation needed]
In addition to its natural beauty, the gorge also provides a critical transportation corridor. Natives would travel through the Gorge to trade at Celilo falls, both along the river and over Lolo Pass on the north side of Mount Hood; Americans followed similar routes when settling the region, and later established steamboat lines and railroads through the gorge. The Columbia River Highway, built in the early 20th century, was the first major paved highway in the Pacific Northwest, and remains famous for its scenic beauty.[citation needed]
The gorge is one of the most popular recreational locations in the Pacific Northwest.[citation needed]
Atmospheric pressure differentials east and west of the Cascades create a wind tunnel effect in the deep cut of the gorge, generating 35 mph (56 km/h) winds that make it one of the finest and best-known windsurfing and kiteboarding locations in the world. The hatchery, located on the Washington side of the river near Hood River is one of the most popular places to windsurf.
The gorge also contains the greatest concentration of waterfalls in the Pacific Northwest, with over 77 waterfalls on the Oregon side of the gorge alone. Many are along the Historic Columbia River Highway, including the notable Multnomah Falls, which, at 620 feet (188 m), is often claimed (erroneously[2]) to be the second tallest year-round waterfall in the United States.
In November 1986, Congress recognized the unique beauty of the gorge by making it first U.S. National Scenic Area and establishing the Columbia River Gorge Commission as part of an interstate compact.
[edit] Gallery
 Columbia River Gorge, photographed from Cape Horn |
 Columbia River Gorge, photographed from the southern edge of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest |
 Native Indian petroglyphs in the Columbia River Gorge near The Dalles Dam |
 Kitesurfing on the Columbia River |
[edit] See also
- Lolo Pass (Oregon), an early alternative to the Gorge for pioneers traveling to the Willamette Valley
- Barlow Road, the first wagon-compatible pioneer road to provide a safer alternative to traveling through the gorge
- Cascades Rapids
- Historic Columbia River Highway
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Fine lodging options in the Columbia River Gorge
- Gorge Friends.org - Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Act
- U.S. Forest Service - Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
- Columbia River Gorge Commission
- The Seattle Times' Pacific NW magazine - "Trailing an Apocalypse" - 30 September 2007
- Rau, Weldon W. (Winter 2001-02). "The Columbia River Gorge and Early Emigrant Travel: Through the Magnificent Gateway". Columbia magazine 15 (4).
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