Throbbing with history of the Pacific Northwest of Canada and the United States, the mighty Columbia River is one of the longest rivers in North America. The Columbia has been an enemy at times. Before dams, vicious rapids claimed lives; and the river, swelled by ice melt from Canadas Columbia Ice Fields, flooded towns as distant as Portland, Oregon. Always it has been stunningly scenic. Read about the early river steamers on both sides of the border. Ponder the travels of salmon. Who built the Grand Coulee or Bonneville dams? What happened at the Hanford Project? Explore with David Thompson, who discovered the source of the river. Meet the real people who call the Columbia River shores their homes. JoAnn Roe, a widely published journalist, is the author of seventeen books, one of which was the basis of a documentary for Japanese television. She is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers and the recipient of the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Award, the Governor's Award, and other honors.