Columbia River
Oregon-Washington boundary
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest, flowing from British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to the Pacific Ocean.
It forms much of the border between Washington and Oregon.
The river is heavily dammed for hydroelectric power and irrigation: The Columbia River Basin produces more hydropower than any other North American river system.
Northwestern U.S. state
- WashingtonU.S. seat of government
- boundaryLine marking a limit
- state linePolitical territory's edge
- internationalConcerning relations among countries
Canada · dividing line · demarcation · territory · frontier · treaty
Coastal American region, northward
- watershedDrainage area boundary
- estuaryTidal mixing zone
- confluenceMeeting point of streams
- tributaryStream entering larger river
delta · floodplain · basalt · channel · meander · headwaters · Snake River · Cascade Range
Early 1800s expedition leaders
- SacagaweaShoshone interpreter for westward expedition
- expeditionOrganized exploratory journey
- discoveryAct of finding something
- portageOverland boat hauling
mapping · fur trade · Hudson's Bay Company · pioneers · trailblazing · navigation · canoe · journal
Warm downslope Rocky wind
- sockeyeAlaska's prized salmon
- cohoNorth Pacific salmon species
- steelheadAnadromous rainbow trout
- spawningReleasing eggs to reproduce
run · migration · hatchery · fishery · salmon ladder · gillnet · commercial fishing · sportfishing
Columbia River hydroelectric dam
- hydroelectricGenerated by flowing water
- hydropowerElectricity from flowing currents
- reservoirLarge water storage basin
- spillwayDam's water release structure
turbine · irrigation · flood control · fish ladder · electricity · Army Corps of Engineers · power grid
Oregon
Northwestern U.S. state
- WashingtonU.S. seat of government
- boundaryLine marking a limit
- state linePolitical territory's edge
international · Canada · dividing line · demarcation · territory · frontier · treaty
Pacific Northwest
Coastal American region, northward
- watershedDrainage area boundary
- estuaryTidal mixing zone
- confluenceMeeting point of streams
tributary · delta · floodplain · basalt · channel · meander · headwaters · Snake River · Cascade Range · Mount Hood
Lewis and Clark
Early 1800s expedition leaders
- SacagaweaShoshone interpreter for westward expedition
- expeditionOrganized exploratory journey
- discoveryAct of finding something
portage · mapping · fur trade · Hudson's Bay Company · pioneers · trailblazing · navigation · canoe · journal · westward
chinook
Warm downslope Rocky wind
spawning · run · migration · hatchery · fishery · salmon ladder · gillnet · commercial fishing · sportfishing · conservation
Bonneville
Columbia River hydroelectric dam
- hydroelectricGenerated by flowing water
- hydropowerElectricity from flowing currents
- reservoirLarge water storage basin
spillway · turbine · irrigation · flood control · fish ladder · electricity · Army Corps of Engineers · power grid
- U.S. WatersMississippi River, Missouri, Hudson River, Delaware River, Potomac River
- BC WatersNass River
- Northwest WatersPuget Sound, Snake River, Crater Lake
- Pacific RiversSacramento River
- Oregon WatersIllinois River, Snake River, Crater Lake
- Southwest WashingtonVancouver, Longview, Kelso, Castle Rock, Mount St. Helens
Columbia RiverMississippi River
Longest North American watercourse
Colorado River · Rio Grande · Missouri River · Yukon River · St. Lawrence River
Columbia Riverlake
Enclosed body of freshwater
pond · reservoir · ocean · sea · Great Salt Lake
Columbia Rivermountain
Tall natural landmass
Mount Rainier · Mount Hood · Cascade Range · Rocky Mountains · desert