| Columbia River Gorge | |
|---|---|
 Looking east up the Columbia River Gorge from nearMultnomah Falls. | |
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| Location | Pacific Northwest, United States |
| Established | 1986 |
| Website | www |
TheColumbia River Gorge is acanyon of theColumbia River in thePacific Northwest of the United States. Up to 4,000 feet (1,200 m) deep, the canyon stretches for over eighty miles (130 km) as the river winds westward through theCascade Range, forming the boundary between the state ofWashington to the north andOregon to the south.[1] Extending roughly from the confluence of the Columbia with theDeschutes River (and the towns ofRoosevelt, Washington, andArlington, Oregon) in the east down to the eastern reaches of thePortland metropolitan area, thewater gap furnishes the only navigable route through the Cascades and the only water connection between theColumbia Plateau and thePacific Ocean. It is thus that the routes ofInterstate 84,U.S. Route 30,Washington State Route 14, and railroad tracks on both sides run through the gorge.
A popular recreational destination, the gorge holds federally protected status as theColumbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and is managed by theColumbia River Gorge Commission and theU.S. Forest Service.
The Columbia River,Klamath River innorthern California,Pit River in northern California, andFraser River in southernBritish Columbia are the only four rivers connecting the watersheds on the east side of theCascade Range to thePacific Ocean. Each river has carved out a gorge through the Cascades. The Columbia River Gorge marks the state line between Oregon and Washington, and its wide range of elevation and precipitation makes it an extremely diverse and dynamic place. Ranging from 4,000 feet (1,200 m) to sea level, and transitioning from 100 inches (2,500 mm) of precipitation to only 10 inches (250 mm) in 80 miles (130 km), the gorge provides the setting for a diverse collection ofecosystems, from thetemperate rain forest on the western end—with an average annual precipitation of 75 to 100 inches (1,900 to 2,500 mm)—to the eastern grasslands with average annual precipitation between 10 and 15 inches (250 and 380 mm), to a transitional dry woodland betweenHood River andThe Dalles.[citation needed] Isolatedmicro-habitats have allowed for many species ofendemic plants and animals to prosper, including at least 13 endemic wildflowers.
The gorge transitions between temperate rainforest to dry grasslands in only 80 miles (130 km), hosting a dramatic change in scenery while driving alongInterstate 84. In the western, temperate rainforest areas, forests are marked bybigleaf maples,Douglas fir, andwestern hemlock, all covered inepiphytes. In the transition zone (between Hood River and The Dalles), vegetation turns toOregon white oak,ponderosa pine, andcottonwood. At the eastern end, the forests make way for expansivegrasslands, with occasional pockets oflodgepole and ponderosa pine.
Atmospheric pressure differentials east and west of the Cascades create awind tunnel effect in the deep cut of the gorge, generating 35-mile-per-hour (56 km/h) winds that make it a popularwindsurfing andkiteboarding location. It also creates the right conditions for snow and ice storms during the winter months which also draw very cold east winds toward the mouth of the gorge on the west end.
The gorge is a popular destination forhiking,biking,sightseeing,fishing, andwater sports. The area is known for its high concentration ofwaterfalls, with over 90 on the Oregon side of the gorge alone.[2] Many are along theHistoric Columbia River Highway, including the notable 620-foot-high (190 m)Multnomah Falls.
Trails and day use sites are maintained by theForest Service and many Oregon and Washingtonstate parks.
The Columbia River Gorge began forming as far back as theMiocene (roughly 17 to 12 million years ago), and continued to take shape through thePleistocene (2 million to 700,000 years ago). During this period theCascade Range was forming, which slowly moved the Columbia River's delta about 100 miles (160 km) north to its current location.[3]
Although the river slowly eroded the land over this period of time, the most drastic changes took place at the end of thelast ice age when theMissoula Floods cut the steep, dramatic walls that exist today, flooding the river as high up asCrown Point.[4] This quick erosion left many layers ofvolcanic rock exposed.[3]
The Columbia River Gorge is home to a number of plant species that are endemic or found mostly in the gorge and surrounding areas,Lomatium columbianum,Lomatium klickitatense,Lomatium suksdorfii,Penstemon barrettiae, andPrimula poetica.[5]
The gorge has supported human habitation for over 13,000 years. Evidence of theFolsom andMarmes people, who crossed theBering land bridge fromAsia, were found inarchaeological digs. Excavations nearCelilo Falls, a few miles east ofThe Dalles, show humans have occupied thissalmon-fishing site for more than 10,000 years.[citation needed]
The gorge has provided a transportation corridor for thousands of years.Native Americans would travel through the gorge to trade at Celilo Falls, both along the river and overLolo Pass on the north side ofMount Hood. In 1805, the route was used by theLewis and Clark Expedition to reach the Pacific.[6] Early European and American settlers subsequently establishedsteamboat lines and railroads through the gorge. Today, theBNSF Railway runs freights along the Washington side of the river, while its rival, theUnion Pacific Railroad, runs freights along the Oregon shore. Until 1997, Amtrak'sPioneer also used the Union Pacific tracks. The Portland segment of theEmpire Builder uses the BNSF tracks that pass through the gorge.
TheColumbia River Highway, built in the early 20th century, was the first major paved highway in thePacific Northwest. Shipping was greatly simplified afterBonneville Dam andThe Dalles Dam submerged the gorge's major rapids such as Celilo Falls, a major salmon fishing site for local Native Americans until the site's submergence in 1957.
In November 1986,Congress made the gorge the secondU.S. National Scenic Area and established theColumbia River Gorge Commission as part of aninterstate compact.[7] The experimental designation came in lieu of being recognized as anational park, which would require the existing industries in towns along the river to relocate. The designation was initially opposed by residents fearing government encroachment, due to restrictions in the plan for items such as building paint colors, and was also opposed by conservationists who feared additional development in the region.[8] In 2004, the gorge became the namesake of theColumbia Gorge American Viticultural Area, a 4,432-acre (1,794 ha) area located on both sides of the river.
In fall 2017, theEagle Creek Fire burned in the gorge for three months, consuming almost 50,000 acres (78 sq mi; 200 km2). It reached 100% containment on November 30, 2017, but was not yet completely out.[9]
| Ice Age Glacial Floods |  | |
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| Ice Age Floods Glacial Residue | ||
| Ice Age Floods Erosion & Deposition Features | ||
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45°42′17″N121°47′30″W / 45.70472°N 121.79167°W /45.70472; -121.79167
