Geology of the Pacific Northwest along their course. The larger cataract was that of the upper Grand Coulee, where the river roared over an waterfall. The eroding power of the water plucked pieces of basalt from the precipice, causing the falls to retreat and self-destruct by cutting through to the Columbia River valley near what is now the Grand Coulee Dam. The other major cataract is now known as Dry Falls. It started near Soap Lake in Washington State, where less resistant basalt layers gave way before the great erosive power of this tremendous torrent and waterfalls developed. As in the upper Grand Coulee, the
Grand Coulee, Washington Grand Coulee, Washington Grand Coulee is a city in Grant County, Washington, United States. The population was 988 at the 2010 census. Grand Coulee was officially incorporated on November 6, 1935. It is located above the Grand Coulee Dam and next to North Dam. Grand Coulee is located at (47.939706, -119.001597). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which, is land and is water. As of the census of 2010, there were 988 people, 474 households, and 246 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 554