Jump to content

Geography fun facts and oddities: Difference between revisions

Line 39: Line 39:
=== Rocks ===
=== Rocks ===
* '''Devil's Tower'''
* '''Devil's Tower'''
* click EXPAND for image and details on Devil's Tower
[[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">
[[File:Devils Tower Darton 1900.jpg|thumb||200px|Devils Tower, 1900 (wiki)]]
** 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
Line 50: Line 50:
* '''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
* a 130 ft high granite rock in Wyoming that sticks up out of the prairie
** located at the southeast end of the Granite Mountains
* 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
* 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
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
Line 76: Line 78:
</div>
</div>
* '''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:
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
[[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)]]
* click EXPAND for info on & legends behind the name of the rocks:
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
** 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
Line 88: Line 90:
=== 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]]
[[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)]]
* 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 Shelby County is considered the largest sinkhole in the US.  
* '''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)]]
* See also
</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)]]