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The is a spectacular
Canyon of the
Columbia River in the
Pacific Northwest of the
United States . Up to 4,000 feet (1300 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.
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. In
1805 , the route was used by the
Lewis And Clark Expedition to reach the
Pacific Ocean .
The gorge today holds federally protected status as a
National Scenic Area (United States) and is a popular recreational destination.
Over the eons, the Columbia River has worn a deep gash into the
Volcanic Rock of the Cascades, nearly down to sea level. The last major erosion occurred during the
Missoula Floods during the
Ice Age approximately 13,000 years ago. The most recent geological event was the
Bonneville Slide in the
1700s , an event remembered in the local legends of the
Native Americans as the
Bridge Of The Gods . Frequent rain nourishes a lush
Rain Forest and replenishes the waters that cascade over the sheer
Basalt cliffs.
The western gorge is dominated by
Conifer ,
Big-leaf Maple ,
Cottonwood ,
Oregon Ash , and
Vine Maple . The eastern gorge is home to big-leaf maple and
Oregon White Oak . The wide range of elevation and precipitation in the gorge creates a diverse collection of
Ecosystem s from the
Temperate Rain Forest at
Oneonta Gorge (with an average annual precipitation of 75 inches
mm ) to the
Celilo grasslands (with average annual precipitation 12 inches
mm ). A large variety of endemic
Wildflower s thrives throughout the gorge.
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 Dig s. 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.
In addition to its natural beauty, the gorge also provides a critical transportation corridor and one of the most popular recreational locations in the Pacific Northwest.
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 gorge also contains the greatest concentration of 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 .
