The Snake Above Hells Canyon
September 03, 2015
Photographer: Stu Witmer
Summary Author: Stu Witmer
This tranquil scene shows the Snake River just a few miles above the Hells Canyon Dam on the border of Idaho and Oregon. Flowing from its headwaters in Yellowstone National Park the Snake discharges between 7,000 and 9,000 cu ft (200 and 250 cu m) of water per second at the dam. Here the river is wide and placid and easily approached by paved road. Beyond the dam is a different story. Hells Canyon is one of the deepest in the world. People have lived along the Snake for over 11,000 years, perhaps initially attracted by the salmon that swam up from the Pacific Ocean via the Columbia River. Trout, bass and catfish are also caught in the Snake as is the elusive Hells Canyon white sturgeon that can grow up to 15 ft (4.5 m) long. Photo taken May 6, 2010.
Photo Details: Camera: NIKON E5700; Focal Length: 8.9mm; Aperture: ƒ/8.0; Exposure Time: 0.0013 s (1/750); ISO equiv: 200.
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