Cataclysms on the Columbia: The Great Missoula Floods [B1353]

2009 PB revised Second edition, in nice clean condition. Cataclysms on the Columbia tells two stories. One follows geological research that challenged the scientific paradigm of the early 20th century, and the other chronicles the result of that research: the discovery of powerful prehistoric floods that shaped the Pacific Northwest. The cataclysms at the end of the last Ice Age left a scabland of buttes, dry falls, and rocky gorges, but it took the detective work of geologist J Harlen Bretz to prove it to the world. His lifetime of research and unshakeable belief changed geology forever.

From Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "Exceptional. Written like a mystery that follows the clues to new discoveries and proofs. Continues to show a detailed trail. Facts and figures that must be shared. I highlighted and bookmarked more of this book than normal!"; "Written for layperson but not "dumbed down" . Shows how and why gorge formed. Your next trip might be more than a pretty way to get west to east in Oregon as the formations will have more relevance. Permanent place on my bookshelf!"; "A wonderfully-written book about one of the most amazing geological events, ever to occur."; "This book is one of the best books that I have ever read on the Missoula Floods that swept across eastern Washington between 16,000 to 11,000 years ago. The book details how geologists figured out how the deep coulees and rugged landscape of the Channeled Scablands were formed. More intriguing that this, however, is the story of battle that raged between geologists for decades about whether or not the Missoula Floods actually happened. This is a case where one man was right and everyone else was wrong. It is a fascinating read."