02/09/08

cheap, educational, always interesting.

by zeesty

Always an interesting place to visit. The Visitors Center on the Oregon side is my favorite, its huge, really more of a museum than a simple visitors center. The rangers and volunteer staff are always friendly and helpful.

Be sure to head to the basement to check out the viewing windows at the fish ladders. Salmon run in both spring and summer- but even when they arent going through theres always sommething interesting.

In the spring keep your eyes open for California Sea Lions, a menace to the salmon but still kinda appealing.

• Pros: educational, cheap, interesting

From its fish ladder and hatchery to its sheer size and power, the dam is a Gorge highlight.

by Contributor

In Short
The first major dam built on the Columbia River, Bonneville Dam was completed in 1937 as part of President Roosevelt's New Deal projects. Today the dam is home to two hydroelectric powerhouses and Oregon's oldest fish hatchery. Fish can get from one side of the dam to the other using a device called the fish ladder--and the public can observe the fish through windows affording an underwater view.