Over the years of driving from California to Colorado, I have seen the road off the 15 freeway to
Death Valley many times. Taking the detour to Death Valley has always intrigued me, but adding
more hours to a 16-hour trip seemed daunting. In the future, I plan on visiting Death Valley with
the new information I have learned.
Death Valley many times. Taking the detour to Death Valley has always intrigued me, but adding
more hours to a 16-hour trip seemed daunting. In the future, I plan on visiting Death Valley with
the new information I have learned.
Death Valley is located at the border of California and Nevada, east of the Sierra Nevada
Mountain Range. Death Valley covers an area of 3,000 square miles and contains the lowest
point in North America, at 282 feet below sea level. In 1913, Death Valley hit a temperature of
134 degrees Fahrenheit, which is the highest recorded temperature on earth. This beautiful
landscape of sand dunes, mountains and salt flats used to be inhabited by the Timbisha
Shoshone Indians. Today, however, Death Valley contains resorts, such as Scotty’s Castle,
that offers visitors the opportunity to experience Death Valley's vast geological and environmental
beauty.
Mountain Range. Death Valley covers an area of 3,000 square miles and contains the lowest
point in North America, at 282 feet below sea level. In 1913, Death Valley hit a temperature of
134 degrees Fahrenheit, which is the highest recorded temperature on earth. This beautiful
landscape of sand dunes, mountains and salt flats used to be inhabited by the Timbisha
Shoshone Indians. Today, however, Death Valley contains resorts, such as Scotty’s Castle,
that offers visitors the opportunity to experience Death Valley's vast geological and environmental
beauty.
Death Valley is the result of environmental changes over many millions of years. The oldest
rocks in Death Valley date back to 1.7 billion years ago. Death Valley also contains fossils from
a time when seas covered the area. The Death Valley we know today started with faults forming
in the earth's crust causing volcanic activity. This volcanic activity heightened the mountain
ranges and lowered the valley. Later, Death Valley became engulfed in lakes during the Ice Age
Period. These lakes eroded the canyons and created a build-up of sediment. This sediment
accumulated into large amounts of sand that the wind carried and formed into sand dunes. The
lakes also help formed the Death Valley salt flats. As Death Valley’s climate warmed, these lakes
evaporated and left large amounts of salt sediment. This salt sediment was piled up and formed
into dry and cracking salt beds. Death Valley is still changing today because the mountains
continually erode and spread its sediment throughout the valley.
rocks in Death Valley date back to 1.7 billion years ago. Death Valley also contains fossils from
a time when seas covered the area. The Death Valley we know today started with faults forming
in the earth's crust causing volcanic activity. This volcanic activity heightened the mountain
ranges and lowered the valley. Later, Death Valley became engulfed in lakes during the Ice Age
Period. These lakes eroded the canyons and created a build-up of sediment. This sediment
accumulated into large amounts of sand that the wind carried and formed into sand dunes. The
lakes also help formed the Death Valley salt flats. As Death Valley’s climate warmed, these lakes
evaporated and left large amounts of salt sediment. This salt sediment was piled up and formed
into dry and cracking salt beds. Death Valley is still changing today because the mountains
continually erode and spread its sediment throughout the valley.
One thing, in particular, I want to experience is Death Valley’s sailing stones. These sailing stones
mysteriously move across the Racetrack Playa rock bed leaving a long trail. These rocks are made up
of dolomite and syenite that have broken off from mountains nearby. For many years, scientists have
studied these rocks and have tried to answer the question of “how do they move?”. It has been
suggested that the rocks are able to move over the rock bed from the combination of ice and wind. As
rain falls onto the valley it accumulates and freezes into ice overnight. The rocks are then encased in a
few millimeters of ice and when it thaws it creates moisture under the rock. This moisture allows the
rock to slide when the wind pushes it. I want to experience this phenomenon because it is so unique to
Death Valley.
mysteriously move across the Racetrack Playa rock bed leaving a long trail. These rocks are made up
of dolomite and syenite that have broken off from mountains nearby. For many years, scientists have
studied these rocks and have tried to answer the question of “how do they move?”. It has been
suggested that the rocks are able to move over the rock bed from the combination of ice and wind. As
rain falls onto the valley it accumulates and freezes into ice overnight. The rocks are then encased in a
few millimeters of ice and when it thaws it creates moisture under the rock. This moisture allows the
rock to slide when the wind pushes it. I want to experience this phenomenon because it is so unique to
Death Valley.
I am excited for my future trip to Death Valley and plan on researching it more to fully
understand the beautiful National Park.
understand the beautiful National Park.
No comments:
Post a Comment