While a lot of impressive sights all over the world are continuously being discovered, I still opt to witness the wonders created by Mother Nature rather than man-made attractions most of the time. It’s a good idea to know something about history and other useful information relevant to the place when traveling. I find that understanding the geologic processes that scenic destinations have undergone makes the adventure more thrilling. So far, these are some of the places I visited that definitely left me in awe:
Yosemite Valley
The Yosemite Valley was originally made up of rolling hills and a few minor streams fifty million years ago. The Merced River, one of the main streams that meandered through the valley, eventually supported hardwood forests and shaped the valley path. The continuous uplifting and tilting of the area created defined peaks as the steepness of streams and riverbeds increased. As the world grew colder, the valley was occupied by glaciers. The interaction of the glaciers and underlying rocks formed the glacially polished granite that dominates the area.
The unique granitic cliffs and domes from cooled magma are a favorite of tourists, especially the hikers. Even from afar, the Half Dome would stun you. It is a result of erosion taking advantage of joints that were initiated as the pluton was cooling.
Grand Canyon
Another natural wonder that’s surely worth a visit is the Grand Canyon in Northeastern Arizona. I was blown away at how wonderful the landscape was the moment I stepped my foot in there. As I walked farther down, the more I got to admire the natural processes that contributed to its formation. Erosion and weathering played an important role in revealing the stunning layers of different rocks descending to the Colorado River.
About two billion years ago, igneous and metamorphic rocks were formed in the inner canyon. During the Laramide orogeny around 75 million years ago, plate tectonics caused the region to be uplifted. This event also resulted in the uplifting of the Colorado Plateau. The gorge started to widen due to stream erosion as the Colorado River shaped the Grand Canyon. The deepening and widening were caused by the climate brought upon by the reduction in the temperature of the Earth’s surface and atmosphere. The landscape continues to grow and change to this day due to the climate.
Antelope Canyon
Also located in Arizona, the Antelope Canyon is another world-famous attraction you should not miss. It was formed by millions of years of wind and water erosion. It has two distinct sections — the Upper Antelope Canyon (The Crack) and the Lower Antelope Canyon (The Corkscrew). The Navajo term for Upper Antelope Canyon is Tsé bighánílíní, meaning “the place where water runs through rocks”. On the other hand, the Navajo term for the Lower Antelope canyon is Hazdistazí, which means the “spiral rock arches“.
The slot canyon is the evidence of erosion caused by flash floods in Navajo Sandstone. The water flowing through the crack and fissures, accompanied by extreme heat and cold, deepened the corridors and formed the canyon’s magnificent smooth and “flowing” shapes. Light beams from the sun make the area even more attractive. Some of the notable rock formations you can see from inside the Upper Antelope Canyon are The Candle, The Lion’s Head, and the famous heart-shaped formation.
Horseshoe Bend
The iconic view of Horseshoe Bend can be found near the town of Page, Arizona. It is a meander of the Colorado River which began its formation about 200 million years ago when a sea of sand dunes still covered the landscape fro Arizona to Wyoming. The sand led to the formation of Navajo Sandstone and was topped by layers of sandstone, mudstone, calcite, and limestone. The flow of water from the river, constant erosion and deposition, and extreme weather caused the development of what we see today.
The attraction can be hiked from the parking area, which is about a 1.5-mile roundtrip. It is a little bit challenging as you would have to walk up a mildly steep hill but the view and unique geologic characteristics of the landscape make it rewarding.
Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is the third deepest lake in North America and one of the deepest in the world. The creation was mainly due to vertical faulting, causing the rise and fall of the landscape. Three principal faults are involved in the formation of Lake Tahoe Basin: the West Tahoe Fault, Stateline/North Tahoe Fault, and the Incline Village Fault. Following the creation of the highest and lowest peaks of the region was the eruption of Mount Pluto. The volcanic activity directed to the formation of a dam on the north side. Rain and water from snowfall flew into the basin and gradually created the ancestral Lake Tahoe. As the Ice Age approached, glaciers carved the canyons on the west side of the lake. As the glaciers melted away, they left behind jagged peaks, lake-filled basins, and U-shaped valleys.
It remains one of the most preferred vacation destinations in the United States particularly because of the breathtaking view and wide range of activities such as hiking, kayaking and sledding/tubing.
Hanauma Bay
The word “hana” in Hawaiian means bay, while “uma” means curved, hence translating to curved bay. It is considered one of Oahu island’s jewels. The Honolulu crater was created around 32,000 years ago after a series of volcanic eruptions on the island of Oahu. This “Honolulu Volcanic Series” also created other well-known landmarks including the Diamond Head and Punchbowl. One explosion opened a vent on the seafloor and formed the caldera of Hanauma Bay. The erupting magma blew up in bursts of steam, hit gases, rock, coral, and fine ash which later on hardened into cement-like tuff. Wave action gradually filled the circular bay that we observe in the present time.
The City of Honolulu keeps the marine environment of Hanauma Bay as natural as possible. The nutrient-rich rock and soil of the bay make it an ideal habitat for marine life, therefore making the area popular for snorkeling.
Moro Rock
Moro Rock can be found in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of Eastern California. It looms overhead upon entering Sequoia National Park. It is a large dome-shaped granite geological feature created by exfoliation. Granite expansion occurred through time as the overburden capping them eroded. Exfoliating shells of granodiorite created the rounded dome-like feature of the attraction.
In 1917, the first stairway to the summit of Moro Rock was created but deteriorated three years after. It was then replaced by the current stairway in 1931, which makes the top accessible by a 350-step hike. As you climb, you can savor the way up as well as the summit because of the spectacular views.
The Earth constantly changes and natural processes that occur help us treasure the planet that we live in. If we look deep into nature, we can enjoy the beauty carved by the windstorm.
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