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Set in a high desert landscape of rolling sagebrush hills studded with basalt lava outcroppings, this massive concrete barrier spans the Snake River east of Pasco, impounding the waters of Lake Sacajawea. The dam generates electricity and helps to irrigate many of the region's wineries and fruit orchards. An adjoining lock, 103ft deep, allows large vessels to navigate the waterway. Visitors can browse through exhibits in the visitor center, view migrating salmon (in season) through large glass panels, and walk into the powerhouse. At the Indian memorial above the dam, a circular rock wall surrounds a large boulder adorned with petroglyphs and offers a fine vista of the river, the dam, and the countryside. Across the dam, an observation deck allows visitors to peer over the rim of the navigation lock and into the turbulent waters beneath the spillway.