Metlako Falls is a waterfall on Eagle Creek in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area in Hood River County, Oregon

Hood River County, Oregon

-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 20,411 people, 7,248 households, and 5,175 families residing in the county. The population density was 39 people per square mile . There were 7,818 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile...

, United States. It is the furthest downstream of the major waterfalls on Eagle Creek. Like upstream Punch Bowl Falls

Punch Bowl Falls

Punch Bowl Falls are a group of famous waterfalls on Eagle Creek in Hood River County, Oregon, United States. Eagle Creek drains into the Columbia River, with its outlet on the Columbia River Gorge in Multnomah County....

, Metlako is also in the form of a punchbowl. The falls is 101 feet (30.8 m) tall, though people have measured it anywhere from 100 feet (30.5 m) to 150 feet (45.7 m) tall. It is the upstream limit for salmon

Salmon

Salmon is the common name for several species of fish in the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the same family are called trout; the difference is often said to be that salmon migrate and trout are resident, but this distinction does not strictly hold true...

 spawning in Eagle Creek.

Naming

The waterfall was discovered and named by a committee

Committee

A committee is a type of small deliberative assembly that is usually intended to remain subordinate to another, larger deliberative assembly—which when organized so that action on committee requires a vote by all its entitled members, is called the "Committee of the Whole"...

 of Mazama

Mazama

Mazama may refer to:* Mazama, Washington , a small village nestled in the Methow Valley in the eastern part of Washington* Mazama, the genus name of the Brocket deer...

s in 1915 after Metlako, the Indian goddess

Goddess

A goddess is a female deity. In some cultures goddesses are associated with Earth, motherhood, love, and the household. In other cultures, goddesses also rule over war, death, and destruction as well as healing....

 of salmon

Salmon

Salmon is the common name for several species of fish in the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the same family are called trout; the difference is often said to be that salmon migrate and trout are resident, but this distinction does not strictly hold true...

, likely because it is the upstream limit for salmon

Salmon

Salmon is the common name for several species of fish in the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the same family are called trout; the difference is often said to be that salmon migrate and trout are resident, but this distinction does not strictly hold true...

spawning in Eagle Creek.

Sources

• http://www.waterfallsnorthwest.com/waterfall.php?num=1561&p=0
• http://www.waterfallswest.com/or_metlako.html