Spokane Falls facts for kids
Spokane Falls is a beautiful waterfall and dam system on the Spokane River. You can find it right in the middle of downtown Spokane, Washington. The city of Spokane was actually first called "Spokane Falls" because of these amazing waterfalls!
Contents
History of Spokane Falls
Long ago, the Native American people called these falls "Stluputqu." This name means "swift water," which is a perfect description! The falls were once home to a large village of the Spokane people. They lived near the powerful river for many years.
Exploring the Falls
Spokane Falls is made up of two main parts: the Upper Falls and the Lower Falls. The land around the falls used to be a busy train yard. But it was changed into a city park for the 1974 World's Fair. Today, this park is a great place to visit and enjoy the views.
The Upper Falls
Most of the park is on Havermale Island. This island is where the river first splits. Here, you'll find the Upper Falls Dam. This dam was built in 1920. It helps guide some of the river's water into a special intake on the south side.
The Upper Falls Power Plant uses a special machine called a Francis turbine. This turbine can make 10 megawatts of electricity! That's a lot of power from the water.
Any water not sent to the power plant flows over the Upper Falls. The river splits again at Canada Island. This creates two more Upper Falls on either side of the island. After the falls, the river comes back together.
The Lower Falls
The Lower Falls is where you'll find the Monroe Street Dam. This dam was finished in 1890. It was the very first dam built on the Spokane River. It is also the oldest working power plant in Washington state!
The Monroe Street Dam uses a different kind of machine called a Kaplan turbine. This turbine can create even more electricity, about 14.82 megawatts.
Who Manages the Dams?
Both the Upper Falls and Lower Falls dams are managed by a power company. This company is called Avista. They make sure the dams work well and produce electricity for the area.
Images for kids
-
Spokane Falls, 1894
