Palouse River Country
Many types of floods have created the landscapes of eastern Washington. The first was the basaltic flow of lava that filled up the much older topography east of the Cascade Mountain range. These basalt flows erupted for millions of years creating layer after layer of rock. Then during the ice age a huge ice dam across the pan handle of Idaho created a lake rivaling the great lakes of the Midwest. This lake was some 2,000 feet deep when it ruptured the dam and shot across the steppe country of eastern Washington. This flood of water only lasted a few days but the affects were incredible. It created the scablands and the Palouse River Canyon that we enjoyed by Zodiac, kayak, or at the Palouse Falls State Park. The deposition and erosion due to the water floods was obvious as we ventured up and down the valley. The 190 foot falls showed us the evidence of the last flood some 12,800 years ago, as it cut the large plunge pool at the base of the falls.
Many types of floods have created the landscapes of eastern Washington. The first was the basaltic flow of lava that filled up the much older topography east of the Cascade Mountain range. These basalt flows erupted for millions of years creating layer after layer of rock. Then during the ice age a huge ice dam across the pan handle of Idaho created a lake rivaling the great lakes of the Midwest. This lake was some 2,000 feet deep when it ruptured the dam and shot across the steppe country of eastern Washington. This flood of water only lasted a few days but the affects were incredible. It created the scablands and the Palouse River Canyon that we enjoyed by Zodiac, kayak, or at the Palouse Falls State Park. The deposition and erosion due to the water floods was obvious as we ventured up and down the valley. The 190 foot falls showed us the evidence of the last flood some 12,800 years ago, as it cut the large plunge pool at the base of the falls.
