See The World Famous Columbia River Gorge And Mammoth Bonneville Dam

The Columbia River Gorge in Wash. State is one of the most majestic and unique areas in the world. Here the Columbia River carved out the only sea-level break through the Cascade range on its way to the Pacific Ocean. With the Cascades towering as high as 4,000 feet on either side of the river, one finds an everchanging panorama from lush Douglas-fir forests, craggy stands of pine and oaks, majestic stone-faced cliffs, and spectacular waterfalls, to windswept plateaus and semi-arid conditions. This illustrated document brings together information on its history, geology, ecology, natural resources, fisheries, and mgmt. issues.

The inescapable beauty of the Columbia River Gorge is captured in its entirety by Oregon photographer, Larry Geddis. The stunning Columbia, the verdant cliffs, the myriads of sparkling waterfalls, plus all the enchanting vistas that make this National Scenic Area the magic emerald of the Northwest. To this backdrop, Oregon writer, Linda Stirling adds a delightful, entertaining and informative text. This book is a must for Gorge old-timers and new visitors alike.

Distributed by the University of Nebraska Press for Caxton Press Teeming with the history of the Pacific Northwest, the mighty Columbia River is one of the longest rivers in North America. Surprisingly, however, this 1,243-mile-long river begins not in the familiar Columbia River Gorge separating Washington and Oregon but rather 1,000 miles upstream, near the British Columbia–Alberta border. Long before Capt. Robert Gray discovered the river's entrance in 1792 near what is today Astoria, Oregon, it served as a water highway and a critical source of food for Native people and the earliest Hudson’s Bay Company pioneers. Today it continues to function as a watercourse for barges and ships carrying commercial goods to the world. The Columbia has, however, been an enemy at times. Before dams controlled its flow, vicious rapids claimed lives, and the river, swollen by melting ice from Canada’s Columbia Icefield, often flooded towns as distant as Portland, Oregon. At the same time, it has always offered stunning scenery. Read about the early river steamers on both sides of the border. Ponder the travels of salmon. Who built the Grand Coulee and Bonneville Dams? What happened at the Hanford Project? Explore with David Thompson, who discovered the source of the river. Meet the real people who call the Columbia River shores their home. The book's four sections as well as the Travel and Trivia section have been updated to expand our knowledge of the towns and people along the river.