The Columbia River is the largest river in North America that empties into the Pacific Ocean, and is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river begins in the Canadian province of British Columbia, and flows northwest, then south into the state of Washington. It then turns west, forming most of the border between the states of Washington and Oregon, before emptying into the Pacific Ocean. The river’s length measures at 1,243 miles, and its drainage basin is roughly the size of France, reaching into seven U.S. states and a Canadian province.
The Snake River is a major river of the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is 1,078 miles long, and is the largest tributary to the Columbia River. The Snake River begins in western Wyoming, and flows through the Snake River Plain of southern Idaho, then through the Hell’s Canyon region of northeastern Oregon, as well as the Palouse Hills and on to the river’s mouth in the Washington Tri-Cities area, where it drains into the Columbia River.