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The geography of Southern Nevada is very unique. It is characterized by a daunting desert landscape with incredible mountains that tower above. Horses run amongst Joshua Trees and Mojave turtles hide in their shell from predators. History can be seen in the layers of the mountains. Plate tectonics have pushed the Keystone fault upward creating a panoramic vista in Red Rock Canyon. "The red color of some of the outcrops of the Aztec Sandstone is due to presence of iron oxide or hematite. Exposure to the elements caused iron minerals to oxidize or “rust,” resulting in red, orange, and brown-colored rocks. Areas where the rock is buff in color may be places where the iron has been leached out by subsurface water, or where the iron oxide was never deposited."(1) Humans have also created a mark on the landscape by creating the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead as well as the doomed city of Vegas.
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Mount Wilson from the Keystone fault. |
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Bristlecone Pine estimated to be 5000 plus years old. |
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Red Rock Canyon |
1 million years from now Vegas will be long gone as well as
perhaps the water sources of the area. In just the last sixty years Lake Mead
has significantly lowered in volume. Evidentiary to this is the rings that
serve as water lines. The towering Mount Charleston will be make a even bigger
rain shadow than before since it will be taller. Snow and perhaps glaciers will
be the main source of water for the desert below. The desert and sand that surrounds the mountain may be a source of sand dunes. Wind may blow sand along into the arid mountains. The plate tectonics pushing the mountains up may create this opportunity for a entrapment of sand in higher valleys.
100 Million years from now Southern Nevada may be part of a new coastline. Although unlikely, a earthquake and the plate tectonics such as the San Andres fault may split California off. I predict 100 million years from now that Mount Charleston will be close to being a 14000 foot mountain with glaciers forming. Again the thrust fault I believe will continue to push the mountain higher.
Change is the only constant in life. As the desert wind blows and whips the sand it shapes the rocks and thus the future. The internal forces of Earth will also continue to play a pivotal role in Southern Nevada. The dichotomy in the desert.
100 Million years from now Southern Nevada may be part of a new coastline. Although unlikely, a earthquake and the plate tectonics such as the San Andres fault may split California off. I predict 100 million years from now that Mount Charleston will be close to being a 14000 foot mountain with glaciers forming. Again the thrust fault I believe will continue to push the mountain higher.
Change is the only constant in life. As the desert wind blows and whips the sand it shapes the rocks and thus the future. The internal forces of Earth will also continue to play a pivotal role in Southern Nevada. The dichotomy in the desert.
References
Pictures courtesy of William Canipe