When you first arrive in Portland, the Portland Waterfront that cuts through the heart of the city is impressive.

The long park, the walking paths along the river, bike paths, and festival events are all concentrated here. However, when you actually look at the water's edge, a question arises: "Is this water the ocean? Or is it a river?" The city is large, and the wind blows strongly, giving it a beach-like feel, but in reality, it is a river.

The waterway flowing along the Portland Waterfront is the Willamette River, which merges into the Columbia River and flows into the Pacific Ocean. It often looks like the ocean because the river is so wide and is influenced by tides, yet its essence is still that of a 'river.'

Walking along the Portland Waterfront, you feel that the levees are very solid and well-maintained compared to other city riverbanks. The reason is not just for the scenery but for actual urban protection. Portland is a region with a lot of rain and rapidly changing river levels, so it has fought against floods for a long time.

After experiencing major floods in the 1940s and 50s, the city had to protect the riverbanks with solid levees and concrete structures, resulting in the stable waterfront we see today. The Portland Waterfront promenade and lawns that we comfortably walk on were actually developed on land created for 'flood prevention.' Nature and the city have joined hands to protect each other.

However, this levee environment is not rigid and desolate. Instead, it has become a place symbolizing leisure in the city. In spring, cherry blossoms bloom beautifully, in summer, people ride bikes and enjoy ice cream by the river, in autumn, more people quietly stroll under the colorful leaves, and in winter, the river turns gray, creating Portland's unique calm atmosphere.

Additionally, the Portland Waterfront is also the center of events. Most major events, such as food cart festivals, beer festivals, bike events, and Independence Day fireworks, are held here.

When people in Portland ask, "Where is it held?" most of the time, the answer is Waterfront. It is a complex place where city dwellers gather to eat, drink, and listen to music, while also being able to sit quietly looking at the river.

Returning to the question, there is a reason many people mistake this water for the ocean. The space visible beyond the river is very wide, and the wind often blows as strongly as it does at the sea. Moreover, when you see large cargo ships passing up the Columbia River, you might think, "Isn't this the ocean?" However, in reality, this waterway is not the ocean but a river system that supports the ecology and urban economy of the Northwest.

The water of the Portland Waterfront is not the ocean but has a meaning greater than a river for the people of Portland.

Starting from the flood-preventing levees, it has transformed into the city's parks and has now become a space where local daily life, nature, and culture come together.

A river with an ocean-like scale, the leisure of nature within artificial structures, and a unique landscape where the city and water coexist. This is the charm of the Portland Waterfront.