Last time I talked about the San Andreas Fault and I stumble upon the rest of this information:
Thanks to the San Andreas Fault, and in large sense plate tectonics, California is one of the most geologically complex places in the world. The state contains may major tectonic features:
Plate boundary : San Andreas Fault
Triple junction: Mendocino Triple Junction
Spreading center: Brawley Siesmic Zone
Subduction zone: Cascadia Subduction zone
Active volcano: Mt. Lesssen and Mt. Shasta
Hot spot: Long Valley, Clear Lake Volcanic Field, and others.
California is a land of extremes, and extreme beauty. The highest and lowest points in the continental US are in California and are only seventy five miles apart: Mt. Whitney and Death Valley. Such topographic extremes can only come from tectonics and are short-lived, geologically speaking. The largest food-producing valley in the world is the San Joaquin Valley, providing 1/8th of nation's food. California has more climate zones than any other state.
California's vast geographic and climatic character is also due to tectonics. The Sierra Nevada create uplift of moist oceanic air masses and it rains. Much of the water reaches the San Joaquin valley but by the time the storms reach the eastern Sierra and Owens Valley, most of the water has been wring form the clouds. The White and Inyo mountains, only twenty five miles east of the Sierra Crest, are semi-arid. They suck the remaining water form the skies and by the time the air reaches the Saline and Death Valleys, it is bone dry. Such weather patters have a great influence on the surface geology as well: erosion, deposition and chemical alteration take place rapidly in many parts of California.
Another reason California is so geologically-diverse is because it is big. The bigger the state, the more likely it is to encompass interesting geology. Only Alaska is larger and more varied, and it is four times larger than California. Both states have eight National Parks- more than any other states- and the parks are draped over some of the most spectacular geological scenery in the world. Like California, Alaska is a tectonically active region.
California's state rock, mineral and gem are all products of tectonics: serpentine, gold and benitoite.
Watering Cove Abel Tasman National Park
Half Dome - Yosemite Valley
Yosemite Half Dome:
Looking a bit like half an ice cream scoop awaiting the next bite, Half Dome is an iconic landforms in Yosemite National Park (nps.gov). At one time the mountain, with its near vertical granite face, was considered inaccessible. Yet today it is one of the most challenging climbs in the park. Those who make it to the top of the near 5,000-foot high landform are rewarded with a view of Yosemite Valley and a good portion of the Sierra Mountains. The park service has laid out trails and installed cables to help climbers reach the summit. Other than that, Half Dome remains in its natural state.
Glacier Point - Yosemite National Park
Death Valley:
Death Valley is a place of extremes. In summer, temperatures can get above 120 degrees Fahrenheit and stay there. During the winter, mountains rimming the canyon can have a dusting of snow on their peaks. Death Valley was created by the shifting of the earth's crust in earthquake-prone California. At 282 feet below sea level, Death Valley is the lowest bit of land in North America. It sits between two mountain ranges, the Panamint Range to the west and the Amargosa Range on the valley's east end. Borax commercials featuring the legendary 20 mule teams that hauled the raw borax ore across this desert made Death Valley a well-known name. Today, Death Valley National Park (nps.gov) attracts visitors wanting to explore this challenging environment. Sand dunes, salt flats and Salt Creek, home to the endangered pupfish, are all part of the experience.
Lake Tahoe:
California shares Lake Tahoe, located in the Sierra Nevada mountains, with the state of Nevada, but two-thirds of the lake is inside the California border. Created by active fault lines, the lake's surface sits 6,225 feet above sea level. The surrounding mountains have peaks that reach some 10,000 feet in height. At a maximum depth of 1,645 feet, Lake Tahoe is considered one of the United States' deepest lakes. In winter skiers flock to the various ski-hills that rim the lake. During the summer, camping, boating and fishing are the big attractions. Of course, the Nevada side offers year-round gambling, which is illegal on the California side of the lake. Cal Neva Resort (calnevaresort.com) gets around this rule by sitting on the state line. Walk to the Nevada side and roll the dice.
Lake Tahoe:
California shares Lake Tahoe, located in the Sierra Nevada mountains, with the state of Nevada, but two-thirds of the lake is inside the California border. Created by active fault lines, the lake's surface sits 6,225 feet above sea level. The surrounding mountains have peaks that reach some 10,000 feet in height. At a maximum depth of 1,645 feet, Lake Tahoe is considered one of the United States' deepest lakes. In winter skiers flock to the various ski-hills that rim the lake. During the summer, camping, boating and fishing are the big attractions. Of course, the Nevada side offers year-round gambling, which is illegal on the California side of the lake. Cal Neva Resort (calnevaresort.com) gets around this rule by sitting on the state line. Walk to the Nevada side and roll the dice.
Beautiful Country, but gorgeous State...
This is it folks! Till next time
Bea :)
References:
www.sanandreasfault.org
Tarbuck, E.J., Lutgens, F.K., (2011). Earth- An introduction to physical geology. Print
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