Columbia River topographic map

Name: Columbia River topographic map, elevation, terrain.

Location: Columbia River, Okanogan County, Washington, 98635, United States of America (45.54445 -124.07186 52.11663 -115.85204)

Average elevation: 1,102 m

Minimum elevation: -2 m

Maximum elevation: 4,151 m

The Columbia's heavy flow and large elevation drop over a short distance, 2.16 feet per mile (40.9 cm/km), give it tremendous capacity for hydroelectricity generation. In comparison, the Mississippi drops less than 0.65 feet per mile (12.3 cm/km). The Columbia alone possesses one-third of the United States's hydroelectric potential. In 2012, the river and its tributaries accounted for 29 GW of hydroelectric generating capacity, contributing 44 percent of the total hydroelectric generation in the nation.