#130 Apr 2016 There is more to Vegas than Casinos

At the end of the previous post I said there is so much more to explore on day trips around Vegas.

Our first view of Valley of Fire State Park was out of this world. The colours are so vibrant and the shapes so otherworldly that they don’t seem real.

The layers of sandstone and shale reveal the ancient seas that advanced and retreated over hundreds of millions of years.

Upheaval from tectonic plate movements juggled the layers creating fascinating configurations.

At Rainbow Vista a kaleidoscopic of colours draws your attention in every direction.

We saw a few blooming cactus to enhance the colour scheme.

Over 70 million years, 10,000 feet (3 km) of deposits have eroded away. The forces of nature and millions of years have created fascinating formations.

We could spend days exploring Valley of Fire but time always limits our options.

Red Rock Canyon is part of the Aztec Sandstone that continues from Valley of Fire. It can be seen from the western side of Las Vegas.  

Over 1,700 climbing routes attract climbers from all over the world.

The surrounding desert has a great variety of drought and heat tolerant plants.

There are unexpected bursts of colour. 

There are not sufficient words to describe Death Valley.

From a mile above the Valley, Dante’s Viewpoint provides a spectacular view.

Look for the car on the road below - it's the small black dot!

In 2010 the village of Furnace Creek had a census population of 24 people. Notice the elevation is minus 190 feet.

Summer temperatures regularly hit 120*F (49*C) with a record of 134*F (56*C).

In March we only experienced 89*F (32*C) with about 10% humidity!

There is not much in Furnace Creek except very dry, extreme heat and tourists. The settlement includes a resort, ranch, campground, store and pub. The most popular orders are ice cream, beer and water – not necessarily in that order.

Who remembers “20 Mule Team Borax” from Death Valley?

Tremendous tectonic activities have created dramatic shifts in the surrounding mountains. At about 2,000 years old, this scarp is recent evidence of the forces that have created Death Valley.

In our post #117 we walked on the sea floor at Hopewell Rocks in New Brunswick.

Bad Water Basin is 282 feet below sea level. Look for the small white sign in the upper middle of the photo.

Hundreds of miles from the ocean we were walking below sea level.

The striking colours splashed onto the rocks at Artist’s Palette were made by ancient hot, mineral rich waters bubbling up from below.

 

 

Whenever a little water is available there is colour in the desert springtime.

As we headed back to Vegas we enjoyed another desert sunset driving through Pahrump.

Geologic forces that act upon our earth are slow but irresistible. Visitors only see small changes, such as the crumbling of a cliff face. But all the time, mostly unnoticed, there will be pressures that build mountains and erosion to wear them down. 

There are many natural wonders around Las Vegas that balance the overwhelming images of over the top commercialism in the city.