Willamette

River in west Oregon; length 480 km/298 mi. The river's headstreams, the Coast and Middle forks, flowing from the west side of the Cascade Range, meet to the southeast of Eugene, and the main river then flows north past Corvallis, Albany, and Salem, into the Portland area, where it swings north-northwest to the Columbia River. A distributary, the Multnomah Channel, continues north for 24 km/15 mi, around Sauvie Island, to meet the Columbia at St Helens. The Willamette's headstreams and tributaries, including the McKenzie and Santiam rivers, are dammed for power and flood control.

The Willamette Valley was one of the first regions to be settled in the Oregon Territory (1830s), and now contains most of the state's population. It is noted for its dairy, fruit, and vegetable production.