meaning echo falling water sound water rocks native languages tribal fishing area east today border states oregon washington refers series river native settlements trading villages existed configurations years oldest continuously inhabited community north american continent falls nearby settlements submerged construction geography main main known variously consisted sections called deep main channel features formed relentless push narrows final leg journey pacific_ocean frequently mile width river width feet seasonal flow columbia changed height falls course year low water drop feet investigated area detail described fall great different channels different qualities wrote number variety channels falls surprising equally deep falls feet high spring june july falls completely submerged falls sixth largest volume world largest north_america average annual flow sec periods high water flood sec passed falls narrows series known collectively narrows stretching miles downstream length river dropped feet high water feet low water miles stretch known variously short narrows little upper mile long feet wide miles stretch known long narrows big lower stretch miles long river channel narrowed feet immediately downstream local natives miles long river dropped feet commented early explorers grouped names big early observer noted mile succession boiling explorer charles described remarkable places columbia calculated river dropped feet miles spring river rose feet radically altering nature fur trader wrote water rushes great dash rocks terrific violence craft large small venture safely floods rocks covered water passage narrows improved history fishing trading years native peoples gathered fish exchange goods built wooden platforms water caught salmon long spears poles fish swam jumped falls historically estimated million salmon passed falls year making greatest fishing sites north_america strategically located border speaking peoples served center extensive trading network artifacts original village site suggest trade goods came far away great plains alaska numerous rock art drawings head falls demonstrates site important trading purposes acted melting pot cultures traded lewis clark expedition passed area explorers found great neighboring nations assemble population density unlike seen journey accordingly historians likened area people lived north bank lived south bank intense occurring village reported finding major native fishing sites lower columbia largest described great rendezvous native traders great columbia sea lions seals followed salmon columbia far wrote animals ascend columbia great numbers quest salmon navigation seasonal changes columbia flow high summer low winter affected dramatically lewis clark reached late autumn water relatively low turning falls major barrier contrast passed july high water obscured falls passage columbia gorge relatively easy wrote seasonal change learn terrible low water smooth high water happen year instead fearing approach light pipes rest difficult big miles section river impassable high water autumn low water boats passage dangerous passed wrote asserted white lives lost 1840s 1850s american pioneers began arriving area traveling columbia wooden barges loaded wagons lost lives violent currents near 1870s embarked plan improve navigation river completed mile allowing turbulent falls canal opening greeted great enthusiasm anticipation canal scarcely completely idle flooded dam settlers arrived pacific_northwest 1930s 1940s civic leaders advocated system hydroelectric dams argued dams improve navigation barge traffic interior regions ocean provide reliable source irrigation agricultural production provide electricity world war defense industry alleviate flooding cities occurred destruction oregon aluminum production nuclear production site contributed rapid increase regional demand electricity fully percent electricity war manufacturing volume water attractive site new dam eyes period native people continued fish provisions treaties signed nation tribes guaranteed tribes ancient right taking fish usual accustomed stations federal government convened congressional hearings concluded proposed dam violate tribal fishing rights treaties subsequently government reached monetary settlement affected tribes paying million loss fishing sites columbia commenced work completed years later march hundreds observers looked rising lake rapidly falls submerged fishing platforms consumed village ending age old existence lived small native american community exists today nearby bluff overlooking location falls completed survey site technology response 50th anniversary flooding falls survey revealed falls remain intact artificial lake rocky carved basins channels match aerial photographs 1940s legacy retains great cultural significance native peoples told historian indian person think characteristics listen hear mist fish water come thousand people gathered commemorate year anniversary falls artist architect working artwork scheduled completion
Celilo Falls