Curious Gorge -- Latourell Falls in Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Oregon
by Darin Volpe
Title
Curious Gorge -- Latourell Falls in Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Oregon
Artist
Darin Volpe
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
Wispy white water falls from Latourell Creek over a formation of columnar basalt in the Columbia River Gorge.
The Columbia River National Scenic Area, established in 1986, is the largest National Scenic Area in the United States, and the second one established. The designation is relatively new, with the first such area established in 1984. Offering less protection than wilderness areas or National Parks, National Scenic Areas protect places of outstanding scenic or natural value, yet can allow for mixed uses and private land. Scenic Areas are more often defined in that they are not national parks, wilderness, etc., than what they are. Latourell Falls is first of the seven most visited waterfalls along the Columbia River Highway.
Hexagonal columns are evidence that this was once a tremendous pool of molten lava. The lava contracted as it cooled, causing the rock to split into columns. Erosion created a vast overhang of these basalt columns at Latourell Falls, making for an incredible backdrop to the water dropping 224 feet from above.
Uploaded
January 8th, 2022
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