Roll on, Columbia!

Columbia River, USA, looking upstream from the Oregon side at Rooster Rock State Park. Washington state to the left across the river; Beacon Rock is the prominent butte in the distance. It was a landmark for early travelers, Native Americans and emigrants alike. In fact, the Columbia has been a transportation corridor through the Cascades ever since humans have inhabited this part of North America. Even now it hosts Interstate 84, old US 30, and a railroad line. Washington state route 14 also parallels the river on the north side. Barge traffic also travels on the river as far upstream as Lewiston, Idaho. The many dams that were built on the river in the early-mid 20th century mostly have locks to enable water transportation. (Grand Coulee, the biggest, is also the exception.)