Central Washington Pictures

Moses Lake Photos; Columbia Basin Aerials

Central Washington scenic pictures - Sunset on Moses Lake

Coulee=body of water; irrigates Columbia Basin, Moses Lake, creates Potholes Seep lakes

Central Washington scenic pictures - Moses Lake Sunset ; 2 Boats race

Columbia Basin
©0525 Boaters at Moses Lake

Columbia Basin Aerial
©0534 Grand Coulee Dam

Moses Lake Photo ©0526
Boat Race at Moses Lake

The Columbia Basin is a story of precious water

Moses Lake=Abundant wildlife, recreation areas and solitude

Can you see the tiny fishing boat on the far right?

largest falls in history of world. 400 ft fall till Missoula Flood, ~15000 ya

Walk right up to Potholes close to Moses Lake

aerial photographs of Central Washington - Cow trails leading cows to water

scenic pictures of Washington - Columbia National Wilflife Refuge from airplane

Columbia Basin ©0528 Flowers by a Pothole

Aerial Photographs ©0529 Cattle in Columbia Basin

Columbia Basin ©0530 Dreamy Art of Potholes

The land of the potholes makes an excellent wildlife refuge

aerial photographs of Central Washington - Potholes are drainage seep holes from irrigation to the North

aerial photographs of Central Washington - Irrigation water sinks into the soft Columbia Basin and rises again as potholes to the S of Grand Coulee

Once steamboat rock was in the middle of a farmer's grain field

Central Washington Scenic Pictures

Aerial Photographs:
Columbia Basin
Moses Lake

Grand Coulee Dam pumped water into Banks Lake...Lake Roosevelt is the dam's reservoir

Boats in the water attest to use of Potholes Reservoir State Park

Farming east of Potholes Reservoir, Washington aerial

Soap Lake sported so much mineral content before Grand Coulee, FOAM washed a shore in such volume, it covered picnic tables

This Gallery is all about water. Coulee means "body of water" . Grand Coulee means HUGE body of water, backed up into Franklin Roosevelt Lake and then distributed to the thirsty Columbia Basin. But water is not unknown to this region. What is now called Dry Falls was a 400 foot tall falls 15000 years ago; then the Missoula Flood reshaped the area. The record still stands; this is the largest falls in the history of the world!
           The precious water, lifeblood of the Columbia Basin, when spent in its agricultural task, creates the dreamy art of potholes...drainage seep holes from irrigating farmland to the north.
Flowers by a pothole thrive and Cattle in the Columbia Basin grow because of this water.
          From the air, it is easy to identify Steamboat State Park; then comes Banks Lake, Lake Lenore and Soap Lake. Before Grand Coulee Dam's massive irrigation project was completed in the 1950's, this chain of lakes fed one another in underground streams...ending in Soap Lake. The mineral content increased with each lake, so Soap Lake was rich enough in minerals to create foam that would rise up on the shore. Even today, Soap Lake can produce a thin line of foam in windy conditions.
             Those who live at Moses Lake can enjoy Potholes State Park, fish the Potholes Reservoir, or enjoy the solitude of having Moses Lake...all to themselves. Fantastic sunsets are not infrequent happenings. Oh, to be a boater on Moses Lake.

Just for fun, which of these scenic pictures did you like the best?

Paul and Marilyn Peck
Strength in Perspective logo

P.O. Box 1333
Sherwood, Oregon
97140-1333

Last Updated 2-11-2012