Cataclysms on the Columbia (Scenic Trips to the) [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

by John Logan Allen (Author), Marjorie Burns (Author), Sam Sargent (Author) "Why should anyone care for geology?..." (more)
Key Phrases: kolk lakes, scabland channels, faceted spurs, Columbia River, The Dalles, Lake Missoula (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
The book also tells a human story as fascinating as the story of the flood. . . Entertaining and admirably clear. -- Margaret Donsbach "Friends of the Columbia River Gorge Bulletin" (09/01/1999)

Product Description
The formation of the Grand Coulee remained a mystery for many years, until J Harlen Bretz proved that the Columbia River basin was the site of huge floods 15,000 years ago that created the landscape we see today.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 221 pages
• Publisher: Timber Press, Incorporated (December 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881922153
• ISBN-13: 978-0881922158
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #563,396 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great story, flawed book, June 22, 2000

By	Martin Unwin (Christchurch, New Zealand) - See all my reviews

I'd like to give this book a higher rating, but I can't. Great subject, should be brought to the attention of everyone even vaguely interested in the forces that shape our landscapes, and a fascinating account of the Bretz "saga". Like Wegener, Bretz was ridiculed in his time for his outlandish theories; unlike Wegener, he lived long enough to see his theories dramatically confirmed. On a recent trip to the US I had the opportunity to drive across WA, ID, and MT, and was entranced by the coulees, Dry Falls, the scablands, and the stranded lake shores above Missoula.

So what's my gripe? Simply that, while the authors have done a commendable job of making the whole story accessible to lay readers, they haven't really done their subject the treatment it so richly deserves. The writing (shared by three authors) is uneven, tends to be repetitious, and would have benefited from tighter editing. The chapters describing Bretz and his battles with the geological establishment are the best and most readable; those describing the details of the post-flood geomorphology (sensibly ordered from Lake Missoula to the sea) are more ponderous. The photos are also a big disappointment - I would happily have paid extra for a book with up to date and well-produced colour photos, rather than the grainy monochromes which have been used throughout. Buy the book, marvel at the story, and imagine what it would have been like to watch the floods from a secure piece of high ground, but keep your eyes open for the day when the authors (or someone else) produce a livelier and more readable update.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A very good tour book, March 9, 2002

By	Jerald R Lovell (Clinton Township, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book excellently explains why the eastern half of the State of Washington and the lower Columbia valley are so curiously carved. It also shows how a truly observant scientist works, even though his vindication may be slow in coming. While some persons might wish for more color photographs, I believe the black and white format, particularly in the Grand Coulee region, better shows the power and scope of the floods that carved these otherworldly channels from bare lava rock. The drawing of a typical Bretz flood has to be seen firsthand to be believed. Another exemplary book on the geology of the West. Don't see Grand Coulee or the Columbia Gorge without reading this book.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inconceivable information about the Columbia River Gorge, June 18, 1998

By	[e-mail] (Boise, Idaho) - See all my reviews

This fascinating book, written in language easily understood by non-geologist, yet full of scientific facts that a geologist can appreciate reads like a detective story; describing in detail how the geologic history and formation of the Columbia River was finally understood. It can be used as a road guide and has many maps and photographs showing exact locations of features discussed in the book. A MUST READ FOR ANYONE TRAVELING THROUGH THE COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE IN OREGON!

This book is one that has provided geologist with many of the keys and clues that are presently being used to understand the large flood features seen on Mars.