California Rocks!: A Guide To Geologic Sites in the Golden State - Softcover

Baylor, Katherine J

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0878425659 ISBN 13: 9780878425655

Publisher: Mountain Press, 2010

Synopsis

Californians live on the edge . . . of a tectonic plate, that is. In this geologically tenuous location, where a tsunami, earthquake, or volcanic eruption is just another hazard, the rocks and landforms are dynamic too. From erupting geysers and boiling mud pots to collapsing sea arches and crawling landslides, California is a land in motion. In fact, rocks on the west side of the San Andreas Fault have moved northward nearly 200 miles in the last 20 million years.
With lively prose and beautiful photographs, California Rocks! explores sixty-five geologic sites at parks and other publicly accessible places. Learn why so many saber-toothed cats were preserved in La Brea Tar Pits, how hollow tubes formed in the flowing lava of Lava Beds National Monument, and what forms the big waves at Mavericks surf break.

About this title

About the Author

Katherine J. Baylor holds degrees in geology and geography from the University of California at Santa Barbara. She currently lives in the San Francisco Bay area and is a hydrogeologist for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Kathy has traveled to over forty countries but always returns to California where she enjoys hiking, camping, and backpacking with her friends and family.

Review

Ever wondered how the rocks at Joshua Tree were formed? Why so many saber-toothed cats are found in the La Brea Tar Pits? Or why the waves at Mavericks can be up to 40 feet tall? This book takes you on a tour of California from north to south, touching on a wide range of interesting locations--65 sites of geological interest, distributed evenly throughout the state. For each site there's a short description of geological history as well as maps and color photos to illustrate the different formations you are likely to see. You may have already been to some of the 11 Bay Area locations featured, but now you can learn about how those sea caves on the San Mateo coast at San Gregorio Beach were formed, or find a rare example of an ancient petrified forest next door to the upscale vineyards and mud baths of Calistoga. This book clearly and simply explains the fascinating natural features of different places in our state. (Vanessa Thill) --Bay Nature

"Having grown up in California, many of these sites are very familiar to me. However, what I especially liked about this book was that the photos for each site really captured the flavor of the area and illustrated what the geology was of that site. For those that don't want the detail of a Roadside Geology books, this is the perfect companion for your next road trip in and around California."--Reed Wicander --AASP-The Palynological Society

Edition details

• Publisher: Mountain Press
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 0878425659
• ISBN 13: 9780878425655
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 114