Spring at Multnomah Falls

by Jeff Burgess

Title

Spring at Multnomah Falls

Artist

Jeff Burgess

Medium

Photograph - Fusion Photography

Description

A fusion work of beauty and peace. This waterfall is located along a wonderful drive along the columbia river that separates Washington from Oregon states. The area is generally called 'The Gorge'. It is quite spectacular. The waterfall is, by some accounts, as magnificent and memorable as any in the country. It is located just a 30- minute drive outside of Portland. Multnomah Falls towers 611-feet-tall. One of the more interesting elements of the falls is the bridge that can be traversed about half way up. There are actually two falls, an upper segment and a lower falls of 69 feet (21 m), with a gradual 9 foot (3 m) drop in elevation between the two. Underground springs from Larch Mountain are the year-round source of water for the waterfall, augmented by spring runoff from the mountain's snowpack and rainwater during the other seasons. According to Wikipedia, Multnomah Falls is listed as the 137th tallest waterfall in the United States by the World Waterfall Database. You get to the foot bridge via a short hike that is easily accessable to most people. The falls roar over many ledges and the water falls into a small pool and then flows into the Columbia river. The landscape surrounding the falls is beautiful with large firs and small ferns. The entire scene is awe-inspiring. From the parking area off of I-84, a 5-minute walk is all that separates you from the exhilarating spray at the base of the falls.
According to Native American lore, Multnomah Falls was created to win the heart of a young princess who wanted a hidden place to bathe. Although you can see the top portion of the falls from the highway, to view both tiers you have to walk to the viewing area located in a carved-out opening in the rock face. Tilting your head up in the narrow rocky confines of the steep cliffs, you get a mind-boggling perspective on the sheer magnitude of the falls. You can also climb to the top of the falls, but frankly the midpoint and the bridge is the best viewpoint to see the falls beauty. If you ever get to Portland or Vancouver, Washington, you must....and I mean MUST get to the falls. I have been there many times during different seasons and I continue to find it mystical and inspiring. One other interesting factoid, according to Wikipedia, on Labor Day in September 1995, a 400-ton boulder, loosened by erosion, fell 225 feet (69 m) from the face of the waterfall into the upper cascade pool, above Benson Bridge. It caused a 70-foot (21 m) splash of water and gravel to wash over the footbridge, causing minor injuries to twenty members of a wedding party that happened to be on it for photos at the time

Uploaded

October 24th, 2012

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