Siegel Lee J. (EN) — Windows into the Earth: The Geologic Story of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks

Windows into the Earth: The Geologic Story of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks краткое содержание

Windows into the Earth: The Geologic Story of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks - описание и краткое содержание, автор Siegel Lee J. (EN), читать бесплатно онлайн на сайте электронной библиотеки Lib-King.Ru.

Millions of years ago, the North American continent was dragged over the worlds largest continental hotspot, a huge column of hot and molten rock rising from the Earths interior that traced a 50-mile wide, 500-mile-long path northeastward across Idaho. Generating cataclysmic volcanic eruptions and large earthquakes, the hotspot helped lift the Yellowstone Plateau to more than 7,000 feet and pushed the northern Rockies to new heights, forming unusually large glaciers to carve the landscape. It also created the jewel of the U.S. national park system: Yellowstone. Meanwhile, forces stretching apart the western U.S. created the mountainous glory of Grand Teton National Park. These two parks, with their majestic mountains, dazzling geysers, and picturesque hot springs, are windows into the Earths interior, revealing the violent power of the dynamic processes within. Smith and Siegel offer expert guidance through this awe-inspiring terrain, bringing to life the grandeur of these geologic phenomena as they reveal the forces that have shaped--and continue to shape--the greater Yellowstone-Teton region. Over seventy illustrations--including fifty-two in full color--illuminate the breathtaking beauty of the landscape, while two final chapters provide driving tours of the parks to help visitors enjoy and understand the regions wonders. Fascinating and informative, this book affords us a striking new perspective on Earths creative forces.