Dam, That's a Lot of Water

We had a quick tour around Portland, then out to the Cascade Locks, the Bonneville Dam and Multnomah Falls. 

The highlight of the Portland tour was a stop at the International Rose Test Garden. The flowers were magnificent. The scent enveloped us as we walked around. What fun to see such beautiful blooms without having to lift a finger to make it happen!

Lewis' post after seeing the falls

The Columbia River was treacherous when the Corps of Discovery came through. 

There were many rapids and falls as the river rolled downhill toward the ocean.

Now, dams and locks control the flow of the river.

However, it still has dangerous areas, especially the Columbia Bar where the river meets the Pacific Ocean.

The dams on the Columbia (and other rivers as well) have fish ladders to allow fish to navigate upstream. Many species spawn in the fresh waters of rivers. Upon hatching the young navigate to the ocean and return to the same river and location when they are ready to spawn.

Lamprey eels were among the fish that were moving upstream as we visited.

The fish are counted and their species and numbers recorded each and every day.

At one point, even before Lewis & Clark passed through the area, there was a land bridge stretching out into the Columbia River. Indians from either side saw this land as sign that they should meet and befriend one another. A large mural on a support of the Bridge of the Gods which runs from Oregon to Washington just below the Cascade Locks shows the land bridge.

Lewis & Clark first noted tidal movement on the river and realized they were getting close to the ocean. However, they learned that they still had many miles to paddle before they actually reached what is now Astoria, OR.