A dam explodes and — for the first time in a century — a river reclaims its course

In an endeavor to turn back Washington ’s White Salmon River to local wildlife , engineers blew a hole in the long - stand Condit Dam . Explains photographerAndy Maser , who tear this spectacular detonation :

On October 26th , a hole was nail in the fundament of 125′ magniloquent Condit Dam on the White Salmon River in Washington . In less than 2 hours , the man-made lake behind the decameter drain entirely and the White Salmon flowed unimpeded by a dam for the first meter in 100 age .

It may look strangely smooth from this advantage peak , but no human were on manus to witness the explosion , as the shock wave would be enough to cause onlookersto bleed out of their ears . you could say more about this labor at theWhite Salmon Time Lapsesite .