Dry falls

We visited Dry Falls in Washington. Apparently at the end of the Ice Age, glaciers blocked the otherwise normal flows of many rivers in the northwest causing an immense lake of stranded water. When the water broke, it resulted in a monumental wash of the NW US with raging waters that eroded cavernous terrain and produced geologic features that were not recognized as being created by the existence of water until current years.

dDry Falls is one of those features not recognized until the 20^th century. Toward the end of the ice age, it saw 10 times the water flow that now graces Niagara Falls. 3 times as wide as Niagara and over 400 feet in height, the flow here, believed to have been upwards of 300 feet deep, would have dwarfed what is the greatest falls in North America.

This intense glacial flood created ripples across the north-western US that, from the ground level, just look like rolling hills. But once we had the perspective of seeing the NW US from space, it was clear that these features were ripples just like those created on the floors of oceans and the great lakes.

While no water flows over the edge today, the ripples and carved canyons (called “coulees” by scientists) remain as evidence. We enjoyed the visit and the history lesson.

Talk to you soon!