The Colombia gorge is a geological area due Northwest of Portland. As you drive along I-84 East you drive through a large portion of it. The area features a plethora of interesting geological formations and stories.
An important thing to note is how the weather of the Gorge typically differs from the valley of Portland. The Coast range and the Cascade range create a 'rainshadow'. This effect means that less moisture falls in the Colombia gorge area because the moisture is impeded from crossing over the mountain ranges. But believe it or not, a long time ago this area was full of different species found in subtropical areas. The evidence for this is found in fossils from around the Tertiary period which is about 6-17 million years ago.
The gorge is a very popular for outdoor activities including wind surfing, camping, hiking and fishing. But the landscape is not untouched. There are many dams in the Colombia plateau, most of which were built in the 1930s, 40's and 50's. There are arguments for and against the dams. Salmon populations are a very hot issue of contention in this area.
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