A beautiful city that sits at the confluence of the Columbia and Willamette Rivers, Portland has long been irresistible to the traveler. Its popularity has also increased considerably since the early 19th century when it was first settled, probably because it is no longer necessary to make an arduous six-month journey via wagon on the Oregon Trail to get there. Modern-day Portland is a place where people live long and live well, as numerous parks, a high degree of environmental consciousness, and a progressive intellectual climate fostered by the city's mostly leftist residents make it a fascinating and endearing place.