Channeled Scablands: The Dalles to Seattle

Steven Dutch, Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Wisconsin - Green Bay
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Acknowledgement

I need to make it crystal clear that none of this is my own research. The pictures on this and associated pages were taken on a GSA field trip in 1994 led by Richard B. Waitt of the U.S. Geological Survey, and the interpretations presented here are largely those of Dr. Waitt as presented on the field trip and its guidebook. I thank Dr. Waitt and his colleagues for a stupendous field experience.

The Dalles

5.1 Petersburg Bar

5.2 Celilo Overlook

Channeled Scablands

5.3 Columbia River Overlook

If there is one place I would take someone to show the effects of the Missoula floods, this would be it. At stop 5.3 we see the Columbia gorge with its walls scoured by the flood. At Stop 5.4 we see where water from the Columbia gorge spilled over a divide 200 meters above present river level with enough force to create spectacular scablands.