Snoqualmie Falls is among the largest and most significant waterfalls in the United States. Situated along the Snoqualmie River in the town of Snoqualmie, the falls plunge a sheer 268 feet in a huge amphitheater carved in ancient volcanic bedrock. The natural volume of the Snoqualmie River, coupled with the great height of the falls makes it one of the most powerful waterfalls in North America. However, that power was too tempting a prospect for intrepid engineers, and in July of 1899 the Snoqualmie Falls Hydroelectric plant went online - the first hydroelectric facility in the world to be built entirely underground. In 1910 a second powerhouse (this one above ground) was constructed downstream of the falls, which was greatly expanded again in the late 1950s.
