Benson Lake

[AlanLichty]

This is about as close as I get to taking selfies with a shot looking upstream along the Columbia River from just over the Benson Recreation Area. Benson Lake was created by the construction of the I-84 freeway and is constantly kept full from the outflow of Multnomah Falls. The falls are not visible in this scene but are off to the right of where the freeway comes close to the railroad tracks and the historic highway. This time of the year there are very few visitors to the Benson Recreation area and I had the place to myself. Wahkeena Falls is 90º to the right of where my drone is hovering for this shot. There is another small lake directly behind my drone's position that catches the outflow of Wahkeena Falls.

Single frame at 28mm.

C&C always welcome.

 

[JimFox]

That lake has always struck me as so different, and almost jarring his it sits feeling squished between the freeway and the railroad. It's almost like it doesn't belong. Not sure why I always feel that way.

You captured it nicely. That's your truck down in the parking lot?

 

[AlanLichty]

That lake has always struck me as so different, and almost jarring his it sits feeling squished between the freeway and the railroad. It's almost like it doesn't belong. Not sure why I always feel that way.

You captured it nicely. That's your truck down in the parking lot?

Thanks Jim - the lake never existed until they brought in the fill for the freeway path and then added a culvert so the water coming over Multnomah Falls could reach the Columbia. It used to just flow right into the river and so did the water coming off of Wahkeena Falls. The freeway created new landforms all along the Oregon side of the river. The Union Pacific railroad used to be pretty much the river bank all along the Oregon side of the river. The other side of the river still has that configuration with the BNSF railroad tracks.

Yes that's my truck in the recreation area parking lot with me standing right next to it near the rear wheel. I was the only vehicle in the parking lot. From where my drone is hovering is a perfect view of Wahkeena Falls and then I can fly over the freeway and have a view to Multnomah Falls. A drone with a 70mm lens is recommended for the best shots of either of the falls from here. Everything to the right of the railroad tracks is a no-fly zone.

 

[Jameel Hyder]

Interesting to see the lake as contrasting with the gorge and how the road divides it.

Nice view.

 

[AlanLichty]

Interesting to see the lake as contrasting with the gorge and how the road divides it.

Nice view.

Thanks Jameel - the lake used to be just another part of the river until the road engineers decided they could build a causeway for the freeway with a culvert for the waterfall outflows. Also true for Mirror Lake back down the road in Rooster Rock State Park for the outflows of Shepperd's Dell and Latourell Falls.