BRIDGE OF THE GODS

It may have been as late as 1760 or as early as 1060. I think the current consensus is around 1450. It may have been triggered by a giant earthquake. At any rate, a massive land slide across the Columbia River dammed it and created what is called a "land bridge" (seems to me it really should be called a leaky dam, but I guess "land bridge" emphasizes the fact that terrestrial creatures such as people were able to cross there). Later, the water which had built up behind the dam breached it and washed it out, with the boulders scattering and forming the great Cascade Rapids.

Here is how the Klickitats (a local tribe) tell the story: Tyhee Saghalie, chief of the gods, had 2 sons (Wy'east and Pahto). The 3 were searching for a place to settle. When they came to this area, they thought this was their place. Wy'east and Pahto both wanted the same land, so they quarreled. To settle the argument, Tyhee Saghalie shot one arrow to the north and one to the south. Pahto followed the north arrow and Wy'east the south. Tyhee Saghalie built the land bridge so that his family could, at least occasionally, get together.

Then came Loowit, a beautiful maiden. Wy'east and Pahto both fell in love with her and she could not choose between them. The 2 brothers fought, causing great destruction of villages and nature. The resulting commotion shook the land bridge apart, creating the Cascade Rapids.

Tyhee Saghalie was so angry that he turned each of them into mountains: Wy'east became Mount Hood, Pahto Mount Adams, and Loowit Mount St. Helens.

In this legend, the land bridge is called Tanmahawis. or Bridge of the Gods.

When opened in 1926, this bridge was named in honor of the Klickitat legend.

Here is a clip featuring Bridge of the Gods from the 2014 movie WILD, for which both Reese Witherspoon and Laura Dern won Oscars (Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress, respectively): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m41mZZSk1UE

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