Saturday, September 20, 2008

Multnomah Falls, Oregon

Eric & I had the opportunity to visit the most beautiful picturesque falls.
The falls is located 30 minutes East of Portland offers breathtaking views of the second-highest year-round waterfall in the United States. With over 2 millions visitors each year, the falls and the lodge are one of Oregon’s gems.Though these falls are one of the more popular tourist stops alongside the Columbia River Gorge, they are also the source of legends, a reputed haunting, and even a Bigfoot sighting. The falls are actually two separate falls known as, simply enough, the Upper Falls and Lower Falls. The water comes from the spring melt run-off and underground springs at the top of Larch Mountain. The water drops down 542 feet for the upper portion and 69 feet for the lower, for a combined drop of 620 feet. The size makes it the fifth largest waterfall in the United States and the tallest waterfall in the state of Oregon.

There is a Native American legend that explains the origins of the falls. In this legend, a tribe was infected with a deadly disease and was in danger of dying. The daughter of the chief went to the top of a cliff and prayed to the Great Spirit to find how she could stop the epidemic. She was told that to stop the epidemic, she would have to throw herself off the cliff and sacrifice herself. She did this and died. The next day, the chief found his daughter's body at the bottom of the cliff. He wept bitterly and cried out to the Great Spirit to give him a sign if this sacrifice was not in vain. At that moment, water began to fall from the top of the cliff, forming Multnomah Falls. The legend also says that under the right conditions, you can see the daughter's face in the waterfall. The Multnomah Falls Lodge is located at the foot of the falls. U must stop by to enjoy their authentic northwestern cuisine, served in a rustic, romantic setting.
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