Imperial Valley Sand Dunes

Imperial Valley Sand Dunes
The Imperial Valley is full of many geological wonders. This past weekend I spent some time in a geologist's shoes. I camped for 3 nights in the middle of the desert without bathrooms and I explored the great outdoors. My days began when the sun rose and ended when the sun set. Acting like a geologist was a great experience, and I wanted to share my experience here. I learned a lot and I hope that this blog is educational for you as well. Enjoy!

Monday, April 14, 2014

Travertine Rock - Lake Cahuilla



Travertine Rock

Travertine, or tufa, is a freshwater lime deposit. Travertine is found throughout the Imperial Valley as they are remnants of what Lake Cahuilla used to be. Lake Cahuilla was once a fresh body of water that extended over 2,000 miles and had depths of 300 feet (Singer). The Colorado River emptied into Lake Cahuilla for centuries; however, once the Colorado River shifted courses, Lake Cahuilla evaporated into it's much smaller size. Now, geologists can explore the travertine rocks left behind from Lake Cahuilla. Below displays pictures of evidence of travertine rock and ancient Lake Cahuilla.




Reference
Singer, Eugene. Ancient Lake Cahuilla. SDSU, Web. 04/8/14
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