The Seven Wonders of Eastern Washington

I have lived in Eastern Washington all my life. I love living here, but many people don't understand. To many people Eastern Washington is a treeless desert. But, if you look closer you can see so much more. There is beauty here in Eastern Washington. It's in the sunsets that light up the sky like the fourth of July. It's in the lightning that arrives with a summer storm. It's in the blanket of snow that purifies the land every winter.

Eastern Washington is often ignored for the western side of the state. Seattle, the Puget Sound, and Olympic National Park are all nice places, but through my nearly thirty years here I have discovered seven great wonders of Eastern Washington.

The first place on my list of the 7 wonders of Eastern Washington is Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park. This is a truly unique area in all of the United States. Eastern Washington wasn't always the desert we know it as now. 15 million years ago it was full of swamps, lakes, and forest. Due to the volcanic activity that was prominent then, many of the trees and animals of the time became fossilized in this small area near Vantage. With over 50 different types of petrified wood, the park is located near the Wanapum Dam and has its own campgrounds. If you've never seen polished petrified wood, it would be a treat for you to see
Washington's state gem.

Next on the list is one of the most recently constructed attractions in Eastern Washington. Toppenish is a small town on the Yakima Indian's reservation. In 1989 in honor of Washington's centennial celebration, Phil Kooser designed a mural to be painted in one day. This was the first of over 70 murals that fill the city's walls. Each mural depicts the rich history of the area with paintings of the many men and women that have contributed to the area over the years. The quality of the paintings make for an amazing wonder to behold. Tourists now travel to Toppenish specifically to se "where the west still lives".

I can't imagine the joy on the faces of early pioneers when the encountered the next wonder. In the middle of the desert, a 200-foot waterfall appears as if by mistake. Palouse Falls is located near Washtucna and is one of the most truly beautiful sights in the state. When the Missoula floods 15,000 years ago, many rivers changed course, but the Palouse River gained its amazing waterfall. Watch out for rattlesnakes if you ever visit because you'll be admiring the amazing waterfall.

In 1901, a couple of prospectors discovered the next wonder. Formed around 25,000 years ago by Devil's Creek, Boulder Cave is one of the largest caves in all of North America. Home to the Pacific Western big-eared bat, Boulder Cave has 1.5 mile trail that winds you up and down 200 feet of elevation. This cave doesn't have the usual characteristics people think of when they look in a cave. Since it was formed by water, Boulder Cave is wet, often green, and cool.

The only sea-level route through the Cascade Mountains is the Columbia River Gorge. With its north side in Washington and its south side in Oregon, the Columbia River Gorge is a popular tourist attraction for both states. What makes it a wonder is the volume of waterfalls leading into the Columbia River. Oregon's Multnomah Falls is one of the most spectacular and a great stop if you're driving across the state. Over 4,000 feet deep and 80 miles long, the Gorge is truly a wonder.

The world's greatest healing spot is located in the heart of Eastern Washington? Who would've thunk it? Soap Lake is a mineral lake that contains 23 different minerals. Residents bath, drink, and swim in the water for its healing qualities. The water has slick, soapy feel and foam often piles up on the shores of the lake. Visually, it's not impressive, but the testimonials for its healing abilities are astounding. President Franklin D. Roosevelt tried to get a veterans' hospital built on its shores. My mother says he also soaked in the water aboard his train as it passed through the area. World War I veterans were suffering from Buerger's Disease and Soap Lake seemed to be the only cure for the disease. A medical wonder indeed.

Clear back in 1913, the community was trying to protect one of the most beautiful waterfalls in North American. Spokane Falls is not impressive for its height, but the utter volume of water that flows over the cascading waterfall is awesome. Almost 7,000 cubic feet of water per second, the falls are a condensed version of a entire whitewater river in a few hundred feet. Riverfront Park offers a gondola that takes you over the falls in spectacular fashion. This is a must if you ever get to Spokane.

The final wonder of Eastern Washington is one for which all Washingtonians should be proud. Grand Coulee Dam is the largest concrete structure in the United States. The dam if 550 feet tall and nearly a mile across. It produces 6809 megawatts of electricity and provides 600,000 acres of irrigation. Described as "a working pyramid" by one of its builders, Grand Coulee Dam is the Pride of Eastern Washington.

Sources:
Cassandra Tate, Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park, http://washingtonlink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=7396
Toppenish Chamber of Commerce, The Toppenish Murals, http://www.toppenish.net/attractions/murals.php
A View of America, Boulder Cave, http://www.aviewofamerica.com/Washington/Parks/bouldercave.htm
US Forest Service, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/columbia/
K. Kiefer, Soap Lake - A Mineral Lake in the Heart of Washington, http://www.soaplakewa.com
World Waterfall Database, Spokane Falls, http://www.world-waterfalls.com/waterfall.php?num=164
Wikipedia, Grand Coulee Dam, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Coulee_Dam