Why There’s a Pacific Ocean Port in Idaho

Video written by Ben Doyle

[JoeJaJoeJoe]

In Idaho, Lewiston is best known for smelling awful due to its paper mill. It's also the lowest elevation point in Idaho. Literally a hole.

[brandonthompson]

I'd like to clarify (I work in the port of lewiston) only about 2.66% of us wheat exported goes through the port of lewiston 22 million of 825 million bushel, 10% is actually how much is exported through the snake River system before the columbia river which carries 60% of us exported wheat. Also the port of lewiston isn't on the snake River it's on the clearwater River then empties into the snake then colmbia.

[Golgiaparatus]

Another fun fact: As of June 2023, there were exactly 2 uber drivers in all of Lewiston. I flew in for a couple days for work and got driven by both of them lmao.

[willbetts]

Fun facts: Walt Disney got married in Lewiston. If you pay attention to the modern Disney intro with the castle on a river that plays before movies, then look at pictures of Lewiston, you’ll notice something 🤷‍♂️

[Jarekthegamingdragon]

The thing not mentioned in this video is how MASSIVE the columbia gorge is, making this even possible at all in the first place.

[matthewbeasley]

While it is possible that an ocean going ship does go up the river that far, most don't. Nor does most cargo depart the Columbia in barges.
The reality is that the barges are just an intermediate step. The cargo is transferred from the barges to bulk carriers on the lower Columbia and the grain crosses the pacific that way.

Another cool tidbit left out is the fact that many of these barges are dual purpose. They have tanks down low and grain hoppers above. The barges sail down carrying grain, but return upriver hauling fuel.

[frankmoldenhauer]

Midwesterners on Twitter were telling me being able to receive ocean going vessels made states like Illinois and Minnesota not landlocked by definition, so congrats Idaho

[proddarko]

„Im counting Canada as a state“ got a whole different meaning now 😂

[exiledlurs]

I live in Idaho and the fact that we have the most inland Western American Sea Port is my favorite fun fact to say about my state. :D

[magenlin]

"Yes, I'm counting Canada as a single State"
THIS is a truly a man ahead of his time 😂😂😂

[Plutokta]

Well, actually France also moves a lot of its grain by river. Which caused quite bit of a problem when authorities decided, in late 2023, that the Seine river would be closed to the circulation in Paris during the duration of the Olympic games, which also happens to be harvest season.
When farmers and cooperatives found out, they were, to say the least, pretty pissed. Negociations followed, during which (and I kidd you not, it really happened) a member of the Paris council asked: "Well, can't you just delay the harvest to after the Olympics?". In the end, it was agreed that river boats would be allowed to cross Paris at night, in convois.
The alternative would have been tens of thousands of trucks (that don't exist), or hundreds of trains (that would have needed time tables to be agreed upon at least two years in advance).

[daddoo]

The locals say it smells like money here as that fabulous smell comes from a huge paper mill. Don't forget that Lewiston is also home to some major ammunition manufacturing facilities.

[GetThemLyrics]

I drive tow boats for a living. Most barges are 200x35. Not 195x35. I noticed the Tennessee River was missing from the map. Plus they push sometimes over 40 barges at once on the Mississippi. Not 15.

Overall great video. Enjoyed it.

[parkerb]

3:40 "enough wheat to kill a small nation's worth of celiacs" had me ROLLING

[Meirstein]

Fun fact about Lewiston, it is right across the river from Clarkston, WA.

[rfirtfan]

A note about the railways: while Lewiston has a railway, it ships basically no grain by rail. The line from the Palouse is torn up and the Camas Prairie railroad is out of service and has a trestle burnt out. Most grain that moves by rail hits the river around the Tri Cities area or goes straight through to the Pacific.

[comicus]

I'm from LA but visited Lewiston 2 years ago. A friend and former coworker moved up there. (currently working, but will probably stay there when she retires). I saw the dock/port, drove right by it on my way from Montana. Someone I talked to there also mentioned the paper mill that is present, right next to it, so I don't think wheat is the only thing getting on a boat there. But yes, it very much has ocean access.

And for anyone thinking of one day visiting the area, I took the drive over the Lolo Pass and it's very scenic. On the Idaho side you parallel the river for perhaps 100 miles.

[CamperoftheCentury]

Very intriguing and most interesting is the dairy queen

[corynrobinson]

Keep in mind, when those grain silos in Lewiston are full, they make up a very tiny fraction of the wheat produced in the general vicinity. The amount of wheat the Pacific Northwest produces is absolutely insane. I should also mention, there are trains that travel to the west side of Washington state for making flour, bread, and other things.

[uzhasair]

I competed in the national Geography Bee this year and 4 of the questions i answered correctly were due to this channel. For that I thank you and these strange but interesting locations.