Multnomah Falls
|
|
Multnomah_Falls.jpg
Multnomah Falls is a tall waterfall on the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge. Multnomah Creek, whose origin is Larch Mountain, drops in two major steps that are usually given as 542 feet and 69 feet, respectively. That totals 611 feet, but the falls' height is often given as 620 feet. That might take into account a third, small plunge that lies just upstream from the top of the 542 foot drop, and which is out of sight from below.
Multnomah is officially regarded as the tallest waterfall in Oregon. A number of sources assert that Multnomah is also the second-highest year-round waterfall in the United States. Both of these conventional "facts" seem to be in dispute (second external link). There is no denying that the often-photographed Multnomah is the most famous waterfall in Oregon.
A foot trail leads to a bridge spanning the upper plunge pool, and continues on to a platform at the top of the upper falls, providing a birdseye view of the Columbia Gorge, and also of the small cascade known as "Little Multnomah".
The waterfall and its rustic lodge are easily reachable via a stretch of I-84 east of Portland, Oregon, or the Columbia River Scenic Highway (U.S. 30), which takes the driver near several of the other famous waterfalls that dot the Columbia Gorge.
External Links
- High Waterfalls in the World (http://homepages.shu.ac.uk/~acsdry/waterfalls.htm)
- Challenges to heights of waterfalls (http://www.world-waterfalls.com/myths.php)