Next Stop Cathedral Gorge State Park
Next Stop Cathedral Gorge State Park – Made of bentonite clay. We just happened to stumble apon this state park as we arrived in Nevada. A must see place if you are ever in the area.
A beautiful landscape of spires and buff-colored cliffs. The beauty enjoyed today had violent beginnings, starting with explosive volcanic activity that, with each eruption, deposited layers of ash hundreds of feet thick.
after the eruptions ceased, block faulting, a fracture in the bedrock that allows the two sides to move opposite each other, shaped the mountains and valleys prevalent in Nevada today. This faulting formed a depression, now known as Meadow Valley.
Over time the depression filled with water creating a freshwater lake. Continual rains eroded the exposed ash and pumice left from the volcanic activity, and the streams carried the eroded sediment into the newly formed lake.
The formations, made of silt, clay and volcanic ash, are the remnants of that lake. As the landscape changed and more block faulting occurred, water drained from the lake exposing the volcanic ash sediments to the wind and rain, causing erosion of the soft material called bentonite clay.
Wind and water erode rocks and soils at a rapid rate and vegetation cannot grow on the outcroppings. The vegetation-free slopes stand in stark contrast to the valley floor where primrose and Indian ricegrass hold small sand dunes in place.
These mountains of clay are so unique, if you tap on the side of them they sound hollow inside.
Next Stop Cathedral Gorge State Park
16 Replies to “Next Stop Cathedral Gorge State Park”
The clay color and the history of the rock formation and how it looks today was very interesting Sandra.
It sure is a beautiful area Linda.
It seems very unique to me Sandra.
A wonderful sight that your photographs show us
Thank you very much 😊
What an interesting landscape. We will add that one to our “Nevada” list. Thanks for sharing, Sandra!
You are very welcome Kellye, it is a beautiful place. 😉
You sure have had an amazing journey!
It really is Marland, landscapes I have never dreamed of seeing before. 🙂
Wonderful Photos! I made a quick stop there years ago. I plan on returning.
It is an amazing place for sure. So different, 🙂
🧡🧡🧡🧡🙏
Thank you Francine 🙂
What an increadible places we have on our planet !
It is just beautiful isn’t it 🙂