The energy crisis has focused attention on hydroelectric dams in the Columbia River Gorge, yet these facilities provide not only a major power source but also flood control and navigation.
Bonneville Lock & Dam
_Cascade Locks, OR
A national historic landmark, Bonneville was the first dam on the Columbia River; it was completed under the Roosevelt administration in 1937, and allowed ocean-going vessels to navigate upriver by inundating the treacherous Cascade rapids.
Nearby attractions include the Fort Cascades Historic Site and Trail on the Washington side downstream from the dam, Bonneville Fish Hatchery on the Oregon side at Exit 40, fishing areas, boat ramps, hiking trails, and overnight RV parking on the Washington side (no hookups). Bonneville Dam impounds Lake Bonneville, a 48-mile reservoir.
Information: 541-374-8820