The Canal of the Dalles - c. 1925

This close-up view of the Canal of the Dalles demonstrates the ruggedness of the rock formations that channel the waters of the Columbia at this point. With no vegetation or signs of civilization, Prentiss is depending on the shapes and shadows of the rocks to provide visual interest. While by 1925 many people had access to the Dalles by car, the rocks were then, and continue to be now, an alien environment for those of us living in the lush Willamette Valley. While most of us measure time in years or decades, in this view it is easier to measure it in millenia. -- This photo is restored and printed by Old Oregon.