Extra: Multnomah Falls

Multnomah Falls is a waterfall near the village of Troutdale. It is 620 feet high, and it has two parts. It is the tallest waterfall in the state. The water comes from underground springs.

The park around the waterfall is very busy in the summer. More than 2 million visitors stop at the waterfall each year. Visitors can take pictures from below, but there is a path to a bridge for the perfect view of the falls. Visitors can also climb a 1.2-mile trail to the top.

Native Americans have a legend about the waterfall. The Multnomah people say there was disease in the village a long time ago. Many people died. The medicine man talked with the Great Spirit. The Great Spirit required a sacrifice (a sacrifice is an offering to a god in a religious ceremony).

The Great Spirit required the life of the daughter of the tribe’s chief. The chief did not want this. However, the young woman wanted to help. So she went to the cliff in the middle of the night. She jumped off the cliff and died.

Later, the chief found his daughter’s body. He hoped his daughter’s spirit was well. The chief prayed to the Great Spirit for a sign. Then water began to flow from above the cliff. It created the waterfall and saved the Multnomah people.