Join me on an adventure, 'Out in the Field' as I adventure out to explore Fossil Falls in the Owens Valley, California. Found at the base of a massive volcano, Red Hill, Fossil Falls is an incredible geologic wonder! Something else we get to see on this trip, aside from the geology, geomorphology, and geography, is a little bit of the cultural history of the area. We are able to enjoy some petroglyphs, that are thousands of years old, that remind us of the early people in the area. Remember, take the memories and leave no trace, as preserving this history is so important.
During the last ice age, glaciers formed in Sierra Nevada. Meltwater from the glaciers pooled into large lakes, including Owens Lake and the Owens River. The river traveled through to Indian Wells Valley, and its course was diverted several times by volcanic activity. The falls were formed when the river was forced to divert its course over a basalt flow, polishing and reshaping the rock into a variety of unique shapes and forms.
All the lava flows at Fossil Falls are basaltic. The Coso Volcanic Field brought flows from the northeast and later Red Hill, which can be viewed from Fossil Falls, released the younger lava. The flows occurred between 400,000 years ago and 10,000 years ago. During this period, the glacial flows would run through Fossil Falls and smooth the vesicular basalt. The erosion found at Fossil Falls was formed by the youngest glacial runoff, called the Tioga, from the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range about 20,000 to 10,000 years ago
Geographic Features Observed: basalt, erosion, weathering, obsidian, ice age, lava flow, magma, Owens Lake, Lake Manly, Mono Lake, California Ice Age
Some Behind The Scenes with Valley View News!
https://youtu.be/5TjHKZ8oMLA?t=540
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#Geography, #Geology, #FossilFalls