4, 5 June 2017
As Lewis and Clark moved north and westward searching
for the passage to the Pacific Ocean by water, they sought information from the
native peoples about routes and obstacles.
They first heard about a great fall on the river that would be a major
obstacle to overcome. This great fall
would be found in what is now Great Falls, Montana. The expedition encountered
the falls on 13 June 1805. As they explored the area, they found not one but three
falls. These falls would prove to be their
greatest challenge on the journey up to that point.
The Great Falls today has been harnessed by man to
provide energy and prevent major flooding. You can imagine the anxiety it must
have caused Lewis when he first saw it. We visited the falls on a nice sunny
day and enjoyed the beauty and power on display. There is a small knoll with a white pole
which is thought to be the place that Lewis studied the falls for possible ways
around it.
We then moved to the Lewis and Clark overlook which
has a view of the two other falls:
Rainbow and Crooked Falls.
There are numerous accounts of the expedition and the
falls. A few are listed below, if you
are interested in some quick summaries.
4 comments:
I can't imagine what it was like back then looking at those falls and finding a way around them!! They were definitely courageous men!!!
It is now a very beautiful area!!
As we travel, Paul and I always wonder what Lewis and Clark felt when they saw this sight. You photos of the water are fabulous. For some reason, waterfalls and waves bring a peace over me.
Really wonderful pictures of what remains. I'm sad that we can't see what they saw. How magnificent it must have been.
Impressive that they somehow got around the Great Falls and then years later the falls were tamed.
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