Dangerous ‘Graveyard of the Pacific’ Gets Its Story Told in New Film

A new documentary about the Columbia River Bar, the treacherous stretch of water known as the "Graveyard of the Pacific," premieres August 4 on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV, according to a release from Resonance Productions. The film, "Taming The Mouth," launches on Coast Guard Day, which the release notes was chosen to mark the service’s history of rescue work at the river’s mouth.

The Columbia River Bar, where the Columbia River meets the Pacific, has long been considered one of the most dangerous maritime entrances in the world because of shifting sandbars, unpredictable currents and severe storms, per the release. "Taming The Mouth" covers the nearly 150-year effort to make the passage safer through construction and upkeep of the Columbia River jetty system, and follows U.S. Coast Guard crews who still conduct search-and-rescue operations there today.

The release states the Columbia River system now supports an estimated $24 billion in annual commerce, linking the Pacific Northwest to global trade. The film draws on historic imagery, expert interviews and firsthand accounts from engineers, historians and maritime workers.

"People often don’t realize how much is at stake at the mouth of the Columbia," Bruce Jones, executive director of the Columbia River Maritime Museum, said in the release. "This film helps tell the story of how this dangerous stretch of water was transformed—and why that work still matters today."

Filmmaker Brett Eichenberger of Portland-based Resonance Productions said the documentary is "about resilience, sacrifice, innovation, and the people who have continually risen to the challenge of one of nature’s most powerful forces," according to the release.

The project was supported by the Columbia River Maritime Museum and regional partners including the Port of Vancouver USA, J.E. McAmis and Shaver Transportation, per the release. After its digital release, the film is scheduled to screen next month at the Wild Rivers Film Festival in Brookings, Oregon. Additional community screenings have not yet been announced.

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