Day 18 9/12/15 Multnomah Falls, Bonneville Dam & Fish Ladders
Today was another beautiful 90 degree day along the Columbia River Gorge. Our first stop this morning was at Multnomah Falls, Oregon's top tourist attraction. Plummeting 620'feet, in two different sections, it is the second highest year-round waterfall in the US. A steep trail leads up to Benson Bridge, which spans the falls at the first tier's base.
Looking down from bridge at Multnomah Falls
Horsetail Falls was another worthwhile stop along the Gorge highway. It plunges 176 feet.
The Bonneville Dam spans the Columbia River linking the two states of Washingon and Oregon. A Public Works Administration project of FDR's New Deal, portions of Bonneville Lock and Dam project were declared a National Historic Landmark in 1987. To enter we had to drive through a security checkpoint. No backpacks or large purses were allowed inside the complex. Bonneville consists of two hydroelectric generation dams: one on the Oregon side and one on the Washington side. There is also a spillway dam in the center of the river. Fish ladders at both sides allow migrating fish to swim upstream. Chinook, coho, and sockeye salmon, steelhead, shad and other fish use the ladders in their upstream migration. At each fishway, a worker counts the various species of adult fish moving up the ladder. Yesterday's count totaled over 44,000 fish, the majority being chinook salmon.
The Spillway
Fish Ladder
Osprey watching fish ladder
Fish Ladder Viewing Windows
End of the Fish Ladder (Counting Station)
Bonneville hydroelectric dam
The Fish Hatchery has many tanks for the hatchlings of various species. The main attraction is Herman the Sturgeon who weighs over 500 pounds and is 76 years old!
Hatchery Grounds
Herman the Sturgeon
Prior to checking into our hotel in Hood River (Best Western Plus-Hood River Inn) we spent some time at the Waterfront Park enjoying the beautiful afternoon watching the wind surfers and kite boarders on the Columbia. Hood River, Oregon is often referred to as the "Windsurfing Capital of the World".
Bridge Connecting Oregon and Washington
