Columbia River

The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America, stretching 1,243 miles and forming part of the border between Washington and Oregon before emptying into the Pacific Ocean. The river has been central to the region's culture and economy for thousands of years, with its tributaries used for transportation and its anadromous fish species providing a core subsistence for native peoples. European discovery of the river began in 1775, and over the next century, the river was used by fur-trading companies, overland explorers, and pioneers, with the arrival of railroads and steamships facilitating trade and settlement. Since the late 19th century, public and private sectors have extensively developed the river, with locks, dredging, and dams altering river environments and causing industrial pollution and barriers to fish migration.learn more on wikipedia