Priest Rapids, Rapids in Columbia River, Washington
The Columbia River narrows and flows through a series of seven separate cataracts extending over a 9-mile stretch with a 72-foot drop.
Alexander Ross of the Pacific Fur Company named these rapids in 1811 after encountering Haquilaugh, a native shaman of the Wanapum people.
The rapids formed a central fishing location for the Wanapum people, who established twelve villages along the western bank of the Columbia River.
The Priest Rapids Dam, constructed in the 1950s, now controls this section of the Columbia River, generating 955 megawatts of hydroelectric power.
Before the dam's construction, the river descended 20 feet over a short distance, creating one of the most substantial drops in the Columbia River system.
Location: Washington
GPS coordinates: 46.75470,-119.97200
Latest update: March 11, 2025 12:12
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