Priest Rapids facts for kids
Priest Rapids was a special part of the Columbia River in Washington state. It was a narrow area where the river flowed very fast. Sadly, this unique section of the river was covered by water when the Priest Rapids Dam was built in the 1950s.
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Priest Rapids: A Lost River Section
What Was Priest Rapids Like?
Before the dam, Priest Rapids was amazing. The river dropped 20 feet (6 meters) very quickly. It wasn't just one big drop. Instead, it had seven different waterfalls, called cataracts. These cataracts stretched for about 9 miles (14 kilometers). Over this whole distance, the river dropped a total of 72 feet (22 meters).
How Did Priest Rapids Get Its Name?
The name Priest Rapids was given by a fur trader named Alexander Ross. This happened in 1811. Ross was part of the Pacific Fur Company. He named the rapids after a native shaman, or spiritual leader. Ross wrote about meeting a man named Haquilaugh. Haquilaugh was a very important leader of the Wanapum people. Because of him, Ross called the area Priest Rapids.
Why Was Priest Rapids Important?
At Priest Rapids, the Columbia River became narrow and flowed quickly. This made it a perfect spot for catching salmon. Many people came here to fish. There were several good fishing spots and rapids. About a dozen Wanapum villages were located along the west bank of the river at Priest Rapids. It was a vital place for the Wanapum people.
The Dam That Changed Everything
The Priest Rapids Dam was built in the 1950s. This dam was constructed to make hydroelectric power. This means it used the river's moving water to create electricity. To do this, the dam flooded the entire Priest Rapids area. Because of the dam, there are no longer any rapids at Priest Rapids today.
