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Geography fun facts and oddities: Difference between revisions
→Physical geography oddities
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=== Rocks === | === Rocks === | ||
* '''Devil's Tower''' | * '''Devil's Tower''' | ||
* click EXPAND for | [[File:Devils Tower Darton 1900.jpg|thumb||150px|Devils Tower, 1900 (wiki)]] | ||
* click EXPAND for details on Devil's Tower | |||
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"> | <div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"> | ||
** a butte formation in Wyoming that abruptly juts out of the landscape 1,267 ft high | ** a butte formation in Wyoming that abruptly juts out of the landscape 1,267 ft high | ||
** the name comes from an English misinterpretation of the Native American name for it | ** the name comes from an English misinterpretation of the Native American name for it | ||
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* '''Independence Rock''' | * '''Independence Rock''' | ||
[[File:Oregon Trail's Independence Rock 1870.gif|thumb|200px|right|Oregon Trail's Independence Rock 1870 (wiki)]] | [[File:Oregon Trail's Independence Rock 1870.gif|thumb|200px|right|Oregon Trail's Independence Rock 1870 (wiki)]] | ||
* famous for unique formation and 19th century graffiti | |||
* click EXPAND for details and more images of Independence Rock | * click EXPAND for details and more images of Independence Rock | ||
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"> | <div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"> | ||
[[File:Independence Rock, Wyoming, USA, July 2015.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Independence Rock, Wyoming, USA, July 2015 (wiki)]] | [[File:Independence Rock, Wyoming, USA, July 2015.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Independence Rock, Wyoming, USA, July 2015 (wiki)]] | ||
[[File:Independence rock names 1.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Independence rock names 1 (wiki)]] | [[File:Independence rock names 1.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Independence rock names 1 (wiki)]] | ||
* a 130 ft high granite rock in Wyoming that sticks up out of the prairie | |||
* located at the southeast end of the Granite Mountains | |||
* served as a landmark for 19th century western settlers, some of whom carved their names on the rock and some of which are still visible | |||
</div> | </div> | ||
* '''Pompy's Tower" (Pompey's Pillar National Monument)''' | * '''Pompy's Tower" (Pompey's Pillar National Monument)''' | ||
** famous for inscription by William Clark from 1806 | |||
* click EXPAND for details and image of Pompey's Pillar | * click EXPAND for details and image of Pompey's Pillar | ||
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* '''Three Sisters''' or '''Three Sisters Islands''' | * '''Three Sisters''' or '''Three Sisters Islands''' | ||
* click EXPAND for image, details and info on & legends behind the name of the rocks: | |||
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[[File:The Three Sisters islets, DC.jpg|thumb|200px|right|The Three Sisters islets, DC (wiki)]] | [[File:The Three Sisters islets, DC.jpg|thumb|200px|right|The Three Sisters islets, DC (wiki)]] | ||
** three rocky islands in the Potomac River in Washington, DC | ** three rocky islands in the Potomac River in Washington, DC | ||
*** three Native American sisters who died crossing the river there while trying to rescue their brothers who had been kidnapped by another tribe | *** three Native American sisters who died crossing the river there while trying to rescue their brothers who had been kidnapped by another tribe | ||
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=== Sinkholes === | === Sinkholes === | ||
[[File:Thor's Well (37588682016).jpg|250px|border|right|thumb|Thor's Well: a sinkhole on the coast of Cape Perpetua, Oregon]] | [[File:Thor's Well (37588682016).jpg|250px|border|right|thumb|Thor's Well: a sinkhole on the coast of Cape Perpetua, Oregon]] | ||
* sinkholes are holes or caves in the ground caused by erosion or a collapse of a lower, below-ground surface, usually because of water drainage | * sinkholes are holes or caves in the ground caused by erosion or a collapse of a lower, below-ground surface, usually because of water drainage | ||
* sinkholes may also be caused by a drainage of water, such as a water table decline | ** sinkholes may also be caused by a drainage of water, such as a water table decline | ||
* sinkholes are most common where limestone, sandstone, salt beds, or gypsum are prevalent | ** sinkholes are most common where limestone, sandstone, salt beds, or gypsum are prevalent | ||
* Thor's Well | * '''Thor's Well''' | ||
** a sinkhole on the coast of Cape Perpetua, Oregon, that drains at high tides | ** a sinkhole on the coast of Cape Perpetua, Oregon, that drains at high tides | ||
* Golly Hole in | * '''Golly Hole''' in Alabama is considered the largest sinkhole in the US. | ||
Click EXPAND for image and details on Golly Hole | |||
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"> | |||
[[File:December Giant sinkhole collapse USGS 1972.jpg|right|250px|thumb|More than three acres of forest suddenly disappeared into the "Golly Hole" or "December Giant" sinkhole in Montevallo, Alabama, USA. (wiki)]] | |||
** also known as the "December Giant," it formed in 1972 after water drainage at a nearby quarry, | ** also known as the "December Giant," it formed in 1972 after water drainage at a nearby quarry, | ||
** it is 325 ft long, 300 ft wide, and 120 ft deep | ** it is 325 ft long, 300 ft wide, and 120 ft deep | ||
* source: [[https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-largest-sinkhole-united-states?qt-news_science_products=0#qt-news_science_products What is the largest sinkhole in the United States? (usgs.gov)]] | * source: [[https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-largest-sinkhole-united-states?qt-news_science_products=0#qt-news_science_products What is the largest sinkhole in the United States? (usgs.gov)]] | ||
* | </div> | ||
* For more on sinkholes: | |||
** [[https://www.usgs.gov/special-topic/water-science-school/science/sinkholes?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects SinkHoles (USGS.gov)]] | ** [[https://www.usgs.gov/special-topic/water-science-school/science/sinkholes?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects SinkHoles (USGS.gov)]] | ||
** [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinkhole Sinkhole (wiki)]] | ** [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinkhole Sinkhole (wiki)]] | ||