GRAND COULEE
As tall as a 61-story building and nine blocks long, Grand Coulee Dam is one of the engineering marvels of the world. This massive concrete structure har nesses Columbia River waters to bring irrigation, power, flood control, and recreation to this arid region. An out side elevator at the third power plant rises at a 45° angle, affording spectacu lar views of the spillway. In the sum mertime the spillway is used as a giant screen for one of the world’s largest laser light shows.
KETTLE FALLS
Once Kettle Falls tumbled 33 feet in less than half a mile. Now they lie sub merged beneath Lake Roosevelt, a 130-mile-long reservoir formed by Grand Coulee Dam. The Coulee Dam National Recreation Area encom passes 100,000 acres from the dam north along Lake Roosevelt practically to the Canadian border. The recreation area is popular with anglers, boaters, waterskiers, and swimmers.
One of the state’s oldest churches rests beneath the pines just north of town. Built in 1845, the restored St. Paul’s Mission was used for services by native Indians who came here to fish for salmon in the Columbia River.
Go through the visitor’s center to learn about the dam’s history. There are great exhibits here to see.