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| Issue No. 22 "Geology" |
Last Updated
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January 28, 1998
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| The Mesquite Dunes
of Death Valley. Photo by Benjamin Mendelsohn. |
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The pink salt crystals below were created
by artitst Jorg
Lenzlinger
for the Exploratorium's "Turbulent
Landscapes" exhibition
To create your own salt crystals try "Crystal
Creations II" from the "Science Explorer Out
and About" publication.
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| Death Valley is well known for
its extremes. It is home to the lowest point in North America but has also
had the highest recorded temperature on the continent (134 degrees Fahrenheit--in
the shade--at Furnace Creek on July 10, 1913. The geological features of
Death Valley can not help but display the effects of these extremes. Strong
winds, evaporation, seismic activity, erosion, and even volcanic eruptions
play a role in shaping Death Valley. There are massive salt deposits, huge
craters, flat playas, and impressive mountains--Telescope Peak towers two
miles above the valley floor. This winter I visited Death Valley and found
myself in awe of these extraordinary geologic wonders. To better understand
what I saw, I called geologist Allen Glazner, coauthor of "Geology Underfoot
in Death Valley and Owens Valley"; his comments (in text and RealAudio)
appear throughout this article. |
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"Geology in a Land of Extremes"
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Last Issue: "Project SERENDIP: Searching for Life in the Cosmos"
by Ron Hipschman, "Two Cool Interactive Exhibits: Build a Solar System"
and "Your Weight on Other Worlds."
Issue#
21
About This Issue:
I have been fortunate enough to visit Death Valley four times in the
last few years. It's always been a place for friends and family to get
together and enjoy nature. Each time I've visited, I've learned something
new about the valley and it's great to have the opportunity to share some
of those experiences. I'd like to thank Allen Glazner, coauthor of "Geology
Underfoot in Death Valley and Owens Valley" for his time and his insight
into the geology of Death Valley.
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