Cataclysms on the Columbia: The Great Missoula Floods

Are you looking for something fun and educational to do on your spring break? Consider a scenic trip through the Columbia basin! Take a road trip through the great Pacific Northwest and follow the path of prehistoric flood waters from Montana through Washington and down to Astoria, Oregon.

Originally offered by Timber Press in 1986, Cataclysms on the Columbia: The Great Missoula Floods, authored by John Eliot Allen, has been revised and revamped by authors Marjorie Burns and Scott Burns. Republished by Portland State University's Ooligan Press, the new edition features color images, updated science and data, and editorial corrections.

Cataclysms on the Columbia explores geological research that challenged the scientific paradigm of the 20th century, particularly in the Pacific Northwest. Championed by J. Harlan Bretz, the theory of the Missoula Floods ultimately changed the way geologists looked at the Columbia River gorge and surrounding landscapes of the Pacific Northwest. In addition to a rich geological history, the parallel story of Bretz's life-long struggle to prove that "Lake Missoula" and its subsequent floods created the landscape are inspirational.

The basic Missoula Floods theory is that a giant glacier blocked the Clark Fork River and created a massive lake, eventually breaking up to allow the water to escape. Within a matter of about three days, the lake would drain more than 60 times the amount of the Amazon into the Columbia basin.Scientists now believe that event was not singular, but actually occurred at least 40 times.

It is easy to believe this theory as you drive through the Pacific Northwest. Stop to view the Scablands in Montana to see evidence of the torrential waters ripping the soil away where waterfowl gathers in rock potholes. Visit Grand Coulee in Washington to see now-dry towers of rock. This area, known as Dry Falls, was once the home of a 400 ft, 3.5 mile wide waterfall!

Cataclysms on the Columbia features a guided section replete with maps, images, and highway information to make your scenic Pacific Northwest road trip a successful geological tour. In addition to making a great scenic trip, all royalties from Cataclysms on the Columbia are donated to Ooligan Press and the John Eliot Allen Scholarship in Portland State University's Department of Geology.