slgwv's photos with the keyword: WA

Cooling tower for the never-finished Satsop nuclear power plant, near Elma, Washington state. This was one of 5 nuclear plants under construction by what was then the Washington Public Power Supply System (WPPSS--yes, "whoops!") in the late 70s-early 80s. (The name was later changed to Northwest Energy.) Gross mismanagement, huge cost overruns, and lower than expected electricity demand led to abandonment of 4 of the reactors in the early 80s, and in turn to what was then the largest municipal bond default in US history. (So much for a "widows and orphans" investment!) See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_Northwest Obviously, the unfinished cooling tower was not demolished. It remains as a surreal centerpiece in an industrial park--which also rents the area out as a movie set! Presumably that helps with maintenance costs.

Looking more southeasterly (downstream) in this view. In extreme southeastern Washington state, pretty much on the Oregon line. The Grande Ronde River rises in the Blue Mountains of northeastern Oregon and flows pretty much east, joining the Snake about where Idaho, Washington, and Oregon come together. It's cut a canyon thru here in Columbia River Basalt--in fact, in the Grand Ronde subgroup of the basalts! The individual basalt flows define the prominent layering in the slopes. The highway runs more or less north-south; SR 3 in Oregon, becoming SR 129 in Washington. It's pretty steep and narrow, and a bit nerve-wracking with a trailer!

In extreme southeastern Washington state, pretty much on the Oregon line. The Grande Ronde River rises in the Blue Mountains of northeastern Oregon and flows pretty much east, joining the Snake about where Idaho, Washington, and Oregon come together. It's cut a canyon thru here in Columbia River Basalt--in fact, in the Grande Ronde subgroup of the basalts! The individual basalt flows define the prominent layering in the slopes. The highway runs more or less north-south; SR 3 in Oregon, becoming SR 129 in Washington. It's pretty steep and narrow, and a bit nerve-wracking with a trailer! Looking south; downstream (east) is to the left. The inset shows a view a little more to the left. Kind of a gray day, but that was what we had!