- Snoqualmie Falls is a roaring 268-foot tall cascade that falls in more or less one unbroken drop into the Snoqualmie River below. Other waterfalls in the Pacific Northwest are taller, but the 100-foot width of Snoqualmie’s precipice sets it apart. The imposing falls have captivated residents of the valley for hundreds of years. The falls are surrounded by a 2-acre park with two viewing platforms. Located about 30 miles east of Seattle, Snoqualmie Falls is a refreshing spot to visit in the summer but can be equally spectacular in winter when covered in icicles. Just be careful to get there early—the site can be packed with visitors on weekends when the weather is beautiful.
- Star Tales - Grus (ianridpath.com)
One of the 12 constellations introduced at the end of the 16th century by the Dutch navigators Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman after their pioneer observations of the southern skies. Grus represents a long-necked wading bird, the crane. Possibly they had in mind the sarus crane of India and southeast Asia, which is the largest species of crane, standing nearly 6ft tall.