Willamette Falls
The Willamette Falls is a natural waterfall on the Willamette River between Oregon City and West Linn, Oregon.
It is a horseshoe shaped block waterfall that is 40 ft. high and 1500 ft. across caused by a basalt shelf in the river floor. It occurs 13 river miles upstream from the Willamette's confluence with the Columbia River.
Native American legends taught that the falls were placed there by a great god so that their people would have fish to eat all winter. Many local tribes built villages in the area because of the abundance of salmon that were blocked by the falls. It was first discovered by European fur traders in 1810. Oregon City, Oregon was established in 1842 near the east end of the falls, and what is now West Linn, Oregon was formed in 1843.
The falls were not navigable until the completion of the Willamette Falls Locks in 1873. This four lock canal is the oldest continuous operating, multiple lift navigation canal in the United States. The locks were sold by the Willamette Falls Canal and Locks Company to the United States Army Corps of Engineers in 1955.
The Willamette Falls Electric Company (later Portland General Electric) was formed in 1888 to build a hydro-electric generation facility at the falls. Four turbine driven dynamos were built on the east end of the falls. A 14 mile long transmission line to Portland was built, becoming the United States' first long distance transmission of electrical energy for commercial purposes. In 1895 Portland General Electric built a second generation station on the west side of the falls. The newer plant, Station B, is still in operation with a capacity of 14,000 Kilowatts. The old plant is currently part of the Blue Heron Paper Company.
The falls have been home to several paper mills beginning with the Oregon City Paper Manufacturing Co. in 1866. The Willamette Falls Pulp and Paper Co. opened on the West Linn side during 1889. The ownership of the mills has change many times; the present day owners are the West Linn Paper Company and the Blue Heron Paper Company.
The industrialization of the area led to diminishing salmon runs, prompting the construction of a fish ladder in 1882. A new fish ladder, built in 1971 is currently operated by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
External Links
- http://www.waterfallsnorthwest.com/waterfalldetail.php?id=1920
