Proxy Falls, Willamette National Forest, Oregon

The waters of Proxy Creek spill 150 feet down a wide shield of columnar basalt to form this waterfall. As lava erupts from volcanic vents and cools, it shrinks and cracks. Sometimes vertical columns form. Well developed columns result from homogeneous lava cooling at a uniform rate. The extensive basaltic lava flows which repeatedly covered this region provided ideal conditions for waterfall creation and these columnar basalts. The volcanoes of the Cascade Range result from the subduction of the Juan de Fuca Plate along the west coast of Oregon and Washington. The perennial flow of water and north-facing aspect of this waterfall provide luxuriant growing conditions for moss which liberally coats every available surface around the waterfall. This photograph was captured on 6×7 format film.