Sundays Overseas: Origin of the Falls

So why does the Zambesi River 'Fall' into such a deep, narrow crack in the Earth?

Well it literally IS falling into a crack in the 180 million year old basalts that cover the area.  Part of the East Africa Rift System.  As these basalts cooled they formed cracks or fissures.  These weak zones are preferentially eroded to form the Falls.  This is the most recent of perhaps 5 earlier water falls that have formed in the area, having an estimated age of about 100,000 years.

Weekly Volcano # 43: Newberry Volcano

The Paulina Lakes and resort are a main feature of the Newberry Volcano. Located in the Oregon Cascades, South East of The Three Sisters Volcanoes which we have seen before.

Catch-Up Volcano # 40: Mt Adams

I still have one more post for this weeks volcano. Now I've caught up!

Here we see Mount Adams, Mt St Helens lesser known neighbor.


Sorry I'm still stuck with the old upload interface. Is anyone else still having this problem?

Red Rocks Weekend

From the Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs.

I haven't forgotten 9/11, I'm just not dwelling on it.  Perhaps, though, you can imagine the first photo as 'Praying Hands'.

Taken with my ever reliable Minolta SRT-202, Tamron 28-200 zoom, Orange filter, Ilford Delta 400 film.

Weekly Volcano #37: Kohala, Hawaii

The Kohala Shield Volcano.  One of 5 shield volcanoes that comprise the Big Island of Hawaii.

Weekly Volcano #36: Return to Piton de la Fournaise

We will just squeak in with the weekly volcano..........

Looking inside the main crater....

Where on of the scientists later demonstrates sampling techniques from active lava flows

Red Rocks on the Weekend: The Rainbow Bridge

The Rainbow Bridge spans the Colorado River above the Grand Canyon.  This photo was taken from the parking lot adjacent to the Glen Canyon Dam.  The last major infrastructure project in the USA until the recent completion of the "Big Dig" in Boston.

Completed by the Bureau of Reclamation in 1966, it has resulted in many environmental problems including the degradation of the Grand Canyon ecosystem.  The water held back by the Dam also prevents the Colorado River from flowing through to the Gulf of California. Lawsuits resulted in a plan to restore the Grand Canyon ecosystem by scheduled water releases that mimic the spring runoff.  But the farmers in Mexico are out of luck, as the Colorado River turns into a salty swamp near the border and is not free flowing.

Weekly Volcano #35: Shiprock, New Mexico

This week's volcano, from the archives, Shiprock, New Mexico.

Located within the Navaho Nation, one of the sacred mountains.

Weekly Volcano #33: Volcan Baru and Tisingal Caldera

Back in western Panama, with Volcan Baru in the Background and and the flank of Tisingal Caldera visible in th foreground.

Finally up and running again.  We had a DSL modem that was crashing my computer.  Still some other computer gliches, so I'll make a few postings ahead just in case.

Red Rocks Friday: Zion Canyon

Zion National Park, located in SW Utah.

The Baru Surprise

The Summit of Volcan Baru is the site of a major communications center for Panama (and presumably nearby eastern Costa Rica).  The Center is maintained 24-7 by an on-sight engineer that stays for 30 day shifts.  This is necessary because during the rainy season (spring and summer) the 4X4 road to the top may become impassable.

Weekly Volcano #31: More from Volcan Baru, Western Panama

In keeping with this week's kickoff Panama Theme we take another look at Volcan Baru, one of only two active volcanoes in Panama.  I use active in the geologic context.  It has been centuries since Baru erupted, but it is dormant, not extinct, because it was active less than 10,000 years ago.  That is the geologic definition of active.

Located in the Chiriqui district of Western Panama near the Coast Rican border.  The cooler temperature and rich volcanic soil make this the main agricultural area of Panama.  And there is a surprise on Baru that we will see later........

The Gaillard Cut

The Culebra Cut crosses the continental divide of Panama.  It was renamed after Maj. David Du Bose Gaillard the officer in charge of this section of the project, who died before its completion. The American version of the canal was constructed by the US Army Corps of Engineers (1904-1914), after the French attempt to build a sea-level canal went bankrupt.

Approaching the Cut from the north

This is the most famous part of the Gaillard Cut.   For more info check the link.  I have a two-fold connection to the Panama Canal.  Two of my mother's uncles moved to Panama from Barbados to work on the construction.  The Americans recruited mostly from English-speaking islands in the Caribbean for workers.  They settled there and hence I have Panamanian family.  Part II, my mother worked for the US Army Corps of engineers and the people that I met there are responsible for my becoming a geologist.

All photos from Panama are taken with the same camera, lens, and film as listed in the first post (or check the labels)

Weekly Volcano #30: South Sister from the Bachelor Ski Lift

As I mentioned last week, Mt Bachelor is a ski resort.  Here a view riding the ski lift, looking across the valley to South Sister (Middle Sister just behind).

Also visible, Stark Lake and a line of obsidian domes on th flanks of South Sister.

All volcano photos taken with the Minolta X-700, 28-200 zoom lens, and ENC-II film, unless otherwise noted.

Weekly Volcano # 29: Mt Bachelor

Last week we saw a view of the Three Sisters taken from the summit of this volcano.  Not visible in this view is our transport to the top.  Mt Bachelor is the site of the largest ski resort in the Cascades, elevation 9068 ft. the ski lift is on the other side of the volcano. 

Weekly Volcano # 28: The Three Sisters

Located above Bend, Oregon, the Three Sisters Volcanoes are a major feature of the Cascade Range.

South Sister to the left; Middle and North Sister are nearly aligned.  Broken Top from last week is a couple of miles further east. Also visible is Stark Lake.  This photo was taken from the top of Mt Bachelor.

Textures

Granite from Eldorado Canyon

Weekly Volcano #27: Broken Top, Oregon Cascades

 

Broken Top is located near Bend, Oregon. 

A place i used to enjoy, but now I'e heard it has been over-run by wealthy retirees.

The 'top' isn't broken, just deeply eroded.  It is part of a four volcano cluster.

Weekly Volcano #26: Cerro Totuma

Cerro Totuma is a lava dome within Tisingal Volcano, a neighbor of Volcan Baru in western Panama.

We're starting a Panama Series..............

Weekly Volcano #25: Piton de Niege

Me inside one of the Canyons of Piton de Niege, the extinct volcano of Reunion Island.