SNAKE, or LEWIS (the SuosnottE of the Indians), a river which has its rise in the mountains of western Wyoming, in two streams, called the North and South Forks. Entering Idaho the river flows southwest, then northwest to the Oregon State boundary, then north, forming the boundary for 100 miles, between Oregon and Idaho to Lewiston, and the boundary between Washington and Idaho for 30 miles. It then turns westward, crosses the southeastern part of Washington and enters Columbia River near lat. 46° 12' N. and long. W. Its length is estimated to be about 1,000 miles. Where the North and South Forks unite the elevation is 4,800 feet and at the mouth, where it enters the Columbia, it is 340 feet. Its course is through a mountainous country, here and there entering plains, winding around seem ingly extinct volcanoes, passing through fertile lands in Washington. It is noted for its won derful canons, and inplaces for the springs that pour in great abundance from its northern wall. • A fine exhibition of cataracts is fur nished at the Thousand Springs near Hager man, Idaho, between Salmon Falls and the point where the Salmon Falls River enters from the south. The springs in countless num bers issue from rocks far up the faces of nearly vertical precipices. The water does not
make the descent in a single leap, but in a series of cascades. It is lashed into foam by contact with the rocks and the beauty of the scene defies description. The Shoshone Falls (q.v.) are among the wonders of the world. Many of the canons of the river are from 1,000 to 3,000 feet in depth and the waters flow rapidly over irregular beds forming long rapids and magnificent cascades. A number of side alcoves, or short, °blind° canons, leading off the main canons, owe their existence to great springs. These side canons receive no surface streams and there is no other explanation of their formation. The springs undermine the rock by removing the soft material on which it rests. The rock falls into the spring and gradually sinks into its soft bed and thus the cations are formed. Often the undermining is on so large a scale that the falling rock be comes a landslide. The water in the streams which the springs form is intensely blue and very clear. Some of them arc well stocked with trout, although on the edge of a desert.