Snoqualmie Falls

Infobox Waterfall
name = Snoqualmie Falls


caption = Snoqualmie Falls as seen from the pavilion above.
location = West of Snoqualmie, Washington
latitude = 47.54192
longitude = -121.83685
elevation =
type = Curtain
height = 268ft (82m)
height_longest =
average_width = 100ft (30m)
number_drops = 1
average_flow =
watercourse = Snoqualmie River
world_rank =

Snoqualmie Falls is a 268 ft (82 m) waterfall on the Snoqualmie River between Snoqualmie and Fall City, Washington, USA. It is one of Washington's most popular scenic attractions, but is perhaps best known internationally for its appearance in the cult television series "Twin Peaks". More than 1.5 million visitors come to the Falls every year, where there is a two acre (8,000 m²) park, an observation deck, and a gift shop.

Most of the river is diverted into the power plants, but at times the river is high enough to flow across the entire precipice, which creates an almost blinding spray. High water occurs following a period of heavy rains or snow followed by warm rainy weather. This can occur during the rainy season which lasts from November through March. During high water, the falls take on a curtain form.

For the Snoqualmie People, who have lived for centuries in the Snoqualmie Valley in western Washington, Snoqualmie Falls is central to their culture, beliefs, and spirituality. A traditional burial site, to the Snoqualmie, the falls are "the place where First Woman and First Man were created by Moon the Transformer" and "where prayers were carried up to the Creator by great mists that rise from the powerful flow."cite web| url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/PrintStory.pl?document_id=2003698889&slug=nwwsalish100&date=20070510 |title=A look at Salish Lodge, Snoqualmie Falls' high-end hideaway |accessdate=2008-03-03 |last=Tazioli |first=Terry |date=2007-05-10 |work=Seattle Times] The mists rising from the base of the waterfall serve to connect Heaven and Earth. [cite web
title=Federal Agency Recommends Continued Operation of Power Plant at Snoqualmie Falls, Sacred Site
author=Marsha Shaiman
url=http://www.thepeoplespaths.net/news/snoqtrib.htm]

Power plants

. Power plant 1 was built in 1898 and operates at the base of the falls embedded in the rock 270 feet below the surface. It was the world's first completely underground power plant. [cite web
title=Puget Sound Energy: Electricity, Hydro Assets - Snoqualmie Falls Hydroelectric Project
url=http://www.pse.com/energyEnvironment/EnergySupply_ElectricityHydro.aspx] Power plant 2 was built in 1910 and further expanded in 1957, and is located a short distance downstream of the falls. The power plants have a combined output of 44.4 megawatts. [cite web
title=Puget Sound Energy: Snoqualmie Falls Project
url=http://www.pse.com/energyEnvironment/HydroSnoqualmie.aspx] Approximately 1% of Puget Sound Energy sales comes from the plant. Fact|date=February 2007

The 1898 generating system was designated an ASCE Civil Engineering Landmark in 1981. [cite web|title=Snoqualmie Falls Cavity Generating Station, Snoqualmie, Washington, USA|url=http://www.pse.com/energyEnvironment/hydrolic/Pages/HydroSnoqualmie.aspx]

The town of Snoqualmie Falls

The town of Snoqualmie Falls was located near the waterfall. It was associated with the Weyerhaeuser mill there. It had many structures including a hospital, school, community center, and many homes. When the town disbanded, many houses were moved to the nearby town of Snoqualmie.

alish Lodge & Spa

The historic Salish Lodge & Spa overlooks Snoqualmie Falls. The original building on the site was erected in 1919. For 70 years, a small inn known as the Snoqualmie Falls Lodge catered to travelers to the falls with comfort foods. Generations of Puget-Sound area residents took family outings to the Lodge to enjoy the scenic view, country hospitality, and famouscite web| url=http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/archives/1986/8601150937.asp |title=Snoqualmie Falls Lodge Loses Its Lease |accessdate=2008-03-03 |last=Iritani |first=Evelyn |coauthors=George Foster |date=1986-07-19 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer] specialty breakfasts. [cite web |url=http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/archives/1986/8601070918.asp |title=The Falls at 70, Lodge is Still the King of Breakfast |accessdate=2008-03-03 |last=Hunt |first=Judi |date=1986-04-05 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer]

In July 1986, the real estate subsidiary of Puget Sound Energy (which owned the land) terminated the lodge's lease as part of a major redevelopment project in conjunction with Salish Resorts. The 1919 lodge structure was completely remodeled and reopened in 1988 as the 89-room Salish Lodge & Spa. The fireplace is the only remaining part of the original structure. [cite web|title=Salish Lodge - History|url=http://www.salishlodge.com/history.php] The dining room continues to be recommended worldwide for its lodging, spa, and multi-course country breakfast.

In "Twin Peaks", the building stands in for exterior shots of the Great Northern Hotel.

Hiking

The top of the waterfall is less than 100 yards from the parking lot, which has a gift shop, espresso stand, and bathrooms. The main views are from the side of the falls, with a fence separating visitors from the edge of a cliff.

This area has picnic tables and benches, and a small grassy meadow called the Centennial Green, where weddings are performed through the summer. Here, the river trail winds half a mile down hill; it's a steep hike climbing 300 vertical feet coming back up.

Hikers are treated to a piece of temperate rain forest on the way down, with a few moss covered trees, giant ferns, and a few places to step off the trail and rest, or enjoy the scenery. Heavy foot traffic makes it pretty unlikely to see any wildlife; this is mainly a scenic (or historic) hike. The park does not allow pets.

At the bottom of the trail is the 1910 powerhouse, closed off behind fences, and the river itself. Visitors can leave the boardwalk and hop from stone to stone in good weather to see the massive waterfall from below, but caution is advised: the river has flooded the boardwalk before.

Gallery

References

* [http://www./washington-snoqualmie-falls.html Snoqualmie Falls ]

External links

* [http://snoqualmiefalls.com/ snoqualmiefalls.com]
* [http://www.salishlodge.com/ Salish Lodge & Spa]
* [http://www.intwinpeaks.com/ InTwinPeaks.com –Photos of the"Twin Peaks" filming locations in Snoqualmie, then and now]