Still Waters

“If there is magic on the planet, it is contained in the water.” —Loren Eisley

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“No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in
still water that
we can see.”
—Taoist proverb

Multnomah Falls

Multnomah Falls, located in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area in Oregon, drops over 800 feet from its source at the top of Larch Mountain.
It was impossible to capture the scene in one photo.

CLICK ABOVE FOR LARGER VIEW OF BOTTOM PHOTO

The Legend of
Multnomah Falls

by Susan Williamson Smith

Water

“It is no accident that we all lie nestled together in the curves of the universe. We are tugged by the forces of celestial tides. Time folds in on itself and outward again in gladness as we spin around, each of us an utter miracle in a sea of tiny white stars.” —Jamien E. Morehouse

LISTEN TO THE OCEAN | OFF

The still waters of a forest lake

Water is essential for life. It is a precious commodity that covers 75 percent of our planet. People are drawn to water. Vacations are spent at the pool or beach. Swimming, fishing, and boating are favorite pastimes. Beach house Living near water—lakes, ponds, rivers, bays, the ocean—is a luxury. Homes with water views command a lot of money. It feels cool and soothing to be near water. To sit quietly and listen to the sound of ocean tide rush in-and-out or the babble of a brook or garden fountain is relaxing; and the constantly moving vistas and reflected surfaces of ponds, lakes, and rivers capture our attention and shimmer like glass in the sunlight.

Collectively, they are called Niagara Falls:

American Falls (far left)
Bridal Veil Falls (mid-left)
Canadian/Horseshoe Falls (far right)

CLICK PROJECTOR TO VIEW LIGHTBOX

Niagara Falls is a stunning sight. When you visit the Falls, you are amazed by its power. Up close and personal, you stare in wonder, mesmerized, and ask, Where is all this water coming from? Then you wonder why the Upper Great Lakes, the source of all the water, are not empty and dry as deserts after all these years. At the Falls, it is all downhill. The Niagara River plunges over a cliff of dolostone and shale with such force it is breathtaking . . . and potentially life-ending. Rescuing someone caught in the river’s current—past the warning signs posted upriver where the water is deceptively calm and peaceful—is near impossible. Where the Falls hit bottom, the water is exceedingly turbulent and choppy. A 90-degree turn in the river past the Falls creates the wild and treacherous Whirlpool Rapids, North America’s largest series of standing waves. The Niagara River continues to wind its way through the steep Great Gorge to Lake Ontario, down to the St. Lawrence River, and, finally, out to the sea.

More facts about Niagara Falls

“Whether as thundering cataracts, rolling breakers, trickling streams,
pattering rains, or rippleless, star-mirroring depths,
water has the power to instill awe, induce calmness, and inspire reflection.”
—Jim Ballard, Mind Like Water: Keeping Your Balance in a Chaotic World

Water Websites

Still Waters

The Legend ofMultnomah Falls

The Legend of
Multnomah Falls