In Central Washington at the opposite side of the Grand Coulee from the Columbia River resides a three and a half mile crescent shaped precipice known as Dry Falls. Ten times the size of Niagara, Dry Falls is thought to be the greatest waterfall of all time. Geologists speculate that during the last ice age catastrophic flooding channeled water at 60 miles per hour through the Grand Coulee and over this 400-foot rock face. At this time, it is estimated that the flow of the falls was ten times greater than the current flow of all the rivers in the world combined. State nickname: The Evergreen State Other U.S. States Capital Olympia Largest city Seattle Governor Christine Gregoire (D) Official languages None Area 184,824 km² (18th)  - Land 172,587 km²  - Water 12,237 km² (6. ... The Grand Coulee The Grand Coulee is an ancient river bed in the U.S. state of Washington. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... The Horseshoe Falls, one of the three Niagara Falls. ...

Nearly twenty thousand years ago, as glaciers moved south, one ice sheet plugged the Clark Fork of the Columbia River, which kept water from being drained from Montana. Consequently most of Montana flooded forming the gigantic Lake Missoula. Eventually, enough pressure accumulated on the ice dam that it gave way. The Clark Fork River is a river in the U.S. states of Montana and Idaho, approximately 360 mi (579 km). ... State nickname: Treasure State Other U.S. States Capital Helena Largest city Billings Governor Brian Schweitzer (D) Official languages English Area 381,156 km² (4th)  - Land 377,295 km²  - Water 3,862 km² (1%) Population (2000)  - Population 902,195 (44th)  - Density 2. ... Glacial Lake Missoula was a prehistoric proglacial lake in western Montana that existed periodically at the end of the last ice age between 15,000 and 13,000 years ago. ... An ice dam is a geological phenomenon. ...

This sudden release put parts of Idaho, Washington, and Oregon under hundreds of feet of water in just a few days. This event, some consider to be one of the most extraordinary known to man, created the Grand Coulee and Dry Falls in one fell swoop. Similar glacial flooding, though not as impressive as the fore mentioned, kept the falls flowing for the several thousand years. State nickname: Gem State Other U.S. States Capital Boise Largest city Boise Governor Dirk Kempthorne Official languages none Area 216,632 km² (14th)  - Land 214,499 km²  - Water 2,133 km² (0. ... State nickname: The Evergreen State Other U.S. States Capital Olympia Largest city Seattle Governor Christine Gregoire (D) Official languages None Area 184,824 km² (18th)  - Land 172,587 km²  - Water 12,237 km² (6. ... State nickname: Beaver State Other U.S. States Capital Salem Largest city Portland Governor Ted Kulongoski Official languages None Area 255,026 km² (9th)  - Land 248,849 km²  - Water 6,177 km² (2. ...

Once the ice sheets that obstructed the Columbia melted, the river returned to its normal course leaving the Grand Coulee and the falls desiccated. Today, this massive cliff can be viewed from the Dry Falls Interpretive Center, a state park located on highway 17 near the town of Coulee City. Admission is free. Coulee City is a town located in Grant County, Washington. ...

References

Allen, John Eliot; Burns, Majorie; and Sargent, Sam C. (1986). Cataclysms on the Columbia. Portland: Timber Press. ISBN 0-88192-215-3.

See also

• Channeled scablands

DrumHeller Channels The Channeled Scablands are unique geological erosion features in the U.S. state of Washington. ...

External links

• National Park Service online book about ice age floods and the Dry Falls