- Bateman Island
Bateman island is an island located on the
Columbia River between the cities ofRichland andKennewick ,Washington . It is approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) long and 1 mile (1.6 km) wide (160 acres, 64 hectares).History
Lewis and Clark mentioned Bateman Island in their journals in 1805. William Clark and two other men made their way towards the mouth of the
Yakima River , but due to the time the farthest they got was Bateman Island.Lewis and Clark never made it past Bateman Island; it was the furthest upstream they traveled on the Columbia.
The island has suffered damage from
wildfire , most recently onAugust 8 ,2001 . The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental, as opposed to still smoldering leftover debris from just 5 days prior.Fact|date=September 2007Presently, the island is open to the public for numerous activities. It has recovered significantly from the 2001 fire, though there are still signs of it. The island is home to many different species of wildlife, including
deer , birds,carp in the wet season, and numerous small animals. Common recreational activities include fishing, bird watching, and hiking.References
* [http://englishriverwebsite.com/LewisClarkColumbiaRiver/Regions/Places/bateman_island.html More on the background of Bateman island and relation to Lewis & Clark]
* [http://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/2001/0809/story1.html A short description of the wildfire that plagued Bateman island in 2001]
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