Oregon

Overview

Oregon is the central of three Pacific coast states, sandwiched between Washington State and California. Most visits are to the damper and milder western third of the state, where heavily forested mountains give way to large areas of sand dunes and empty beaches, with estuaries choked by fallen trees. Craggy rocks off shore make for a dramatic coastline and for over 600 kilometres one can drive the length of the State, stopping off at small resorts along the way. There is a wide range of recreational activities. If kite flying is one of your loves you will be in your element. For the more adventurous the Rogue River in the south gives the opportunity for white-water rafting, as does the Snake River in the east. Here Hells Canyon, on the Idaho border, flows through the deepest gorge on the continent.

In the north, the mighty Columbia River forms a large part of the state boundary. The Historic River Highway provides a scenic tour of the gorge with Oregon's most visited attraction, the Multnomah Falls (the second highest in the USA), cascading down from the slopes of glacier covered Mount Hood, the highest point in the state.

The Cascades, the chain of volcanic mountains, dividing the state from north to south, provide a haven for the lovers of snow sports in winter, with plenty of spectacular walking and driving at other times. The brilliant blue waters of Crater Lake are a very scenic example of the remnants of a once mighty volcano.

With the...more

History

Oregon had been discovered in 1579 by the English navigator Sir Francis Drake and presented to Queen Elizabeth I. In 1805 Lewis and Clark started on their great expedition west, from Missouri, on orders from President Thomas Jefferson. Their mission was to find a route through the mountains to the Pacific and the journey eventually brought them to the mouth of the Columbia River.

It was not until 1843 that the life of the indigenous nomadic Indians began to be interrupted. The first of around 300,000 pioneers crossed into the state using the Oregon Trail, having braved the hardships of the over 3000 km. journey. This Great Migration lasted three decades and was at its height during the Gold Rush in 1849. The settlers started to farm in the fertile Willamette valley, south of Portland. This remains an important farming area, with extensive fruit growing and is now producing internationally acclaimed wines. The gold is long gone and forestry is the mainstay of the economy, with Portland being an important exporter of lumber products.

In 1859 Oregon Country became the 33rd state of the union and in 1883 the Northern Pacific Railroad linked Oregon with the rest of the nation.

When to Go

Essentials