ALBUM 2) DEATH VALLEY, CALIFORNIA
Friday, 25 December 2009 ~ Artist's Drive, Artist's Palette, Badwater Basin, Zabriskie Point ~
ALBUM 2) DEATH VALLEY, CALIFORNIAALBUM 2) DEATH VALLEY, CALIFORNIA%20(InternetPic)-Originally%20Built%20As%20A%20Working%20Ranch%20in%20the%201880s.JPG "a) (InternetPic)-Originally Built As A Working Ranch in the 1880s.JPG")
%20The%20Furnace%20Creek%20Ranch%20Today%20Offers%20a%20Complete%20Resort%20Complex%20in%20the%20Middle%20of%20Death%20Valley%20National%20Park.JPG "b) The Furnace Creek Ranch Today Offers a Complete Resort Complex in the Middle of Death Valley National Park.JPG")
 ChristmasDay 25 Dec-Sleeping In,Well Into the Afternoon Ready to Explore the Valley ;-) First a Visit to the VisitorCenter.JPG)
%20Small%20Herds%20Of%20The%20Bighorn%20Are%20Found%20at%20Cooler%2C%20Higher%20Elevations%20But%20Occasionally%20Can%20Be%20Seen%20On%20The%20Valley%20Floor.JPG "d) Small Herds Of The Bighorn Are Found at Cooler, Higher Elevations But Occasionally Can Be Seen On The Valley Floor.JPG")
%20Climate%2C%20Flora%20%2B%20WildLife.JPG "e) Climate, Flora + WildLife.JPG")
%20Death%20Valley's%20Current%20Landscape%20Is%20The%20Result%20Of%20Slow%2C%20Massive%20Changes%20Over%20Many%20Centuries.JPG "f) Death Valley's Current Landscape Is The Result Of Slow, Massive Changes Over Many Centuries.JPG"){kind=small}
%20Compared%20To%20Ancient%20Rocks%20(Visible%20Today%20In%20The%20Mountains%20South%20of%20the%20Park)%2C%20The%20Valley%20Is%20Relatively%20Brand%20New.JPG "g) Compared To Ancient Rocks (Visible Today In The Mountains South of the Park), The Valley Is Relatively Brand New.JPG")
%20(MOVIE)ParkFee%20Paid%20and%20Armed%20With%20Map%20and%20Guide%20Booklet%20-%20Exploring%20The%20Valley!.jpg "h) (MOVIE)ParkFee Paid and Armed With Map and Guide Booklet - Exploring The Valley!.jpg")
%20Program%20For%20Today%20-%20Nr.%201%2C%202%2C%203%20and%2017%20(South-East%20of%20Death%20Valley).jpg "i) Program For Today - Nr. 1, 2, 3 and 17 (South-East of Death Valley).jpg")
%20We%20Don't%20Have%20a%204-Wheel%20Drive%20-%20Nevertheless%20Plenty%20of%20Paved%20Roads%20To%20Explore.JPG "j) We Don't Have a 4-Wheel Drive - Nevertheless Plenty of Paved Roads To Explore.JPG")
%20The%20Artist's%20Drive%20and%20Palette%20-%20Scenic%20Loop%20Drive%20Through%20Multi-Hued%20Volcanic%20and%20Sedimentary%20Hills.JPG "k) The Artist's Drive and Palette - Scenic Loop Drive Through Multi-Hued Volcanic and Sedimentary Hills.JPG")
%20The%209-Mile%20Paved%20Road%20is%20One-Way%20(Entered%20From%20The%20South).JPG "l) The 9-Mile Paved Road is One-Way (Entered From The South).JPG")
%20A%20Fun%20Drive.JPG "m) A Fun Drive.JPG")
%20Oxidation%20Has%20Produced%20A%20Rainbow%20Of%20Colors.JPG "n) Oxidation Has Produced A Rainbow Of Colors.JPG")
%20In%20The%20Eroded%20Clay%20Deposits%20of%20Ancient%20LakeBed%20Sediments.JPG "o) In The Eroded Clay Deposits of Ancient LakeBed Sediments.JPG")
%20A%20True%20Artists%20Palette.JPG "p) A True Artists Palette.JPG")
%20(MOVIE)A%20Drive%20Through%20The%20Mind%20of%20the%20Geology%20Artist.jpg "q) (MOVIE)A Drive Through The Mind of the Geology Artist.jpg")
%20The%20Natural%20Artist.JPG "r) The Natural Artist.JPG")
%20This%20Looks%20Like%20Volcanic%20(Igneous)%20Erosion.JPG "s) This Looks Like Volcanic (Igneous) Erosion.JPG")
%20In%20Literal%20Geological%20Terms%2C%20Death%20Valley%20is%20A%20Graben%20-%20A%20Rift%20Valley%20Formed%20By%20the%20Sinking%20Of%20The%20Bedrock%20...JPG "t) In Literal Geological Terms, Death Valley is A Graben - A Rift Valley Formed By the Sinking Of The Bedrock ...JPG")
%20%20Lying%20Between%20Parallel%2C%20Uplifted%2C%20Tilt-Block%20Mountain%20Ranges%20-%20In%20This%20Case%2C%20The%20Amargosa%20(East)%20and%20Panamints%20(West).jpg "u) Lying Between Parallel, Uplifted, Tilt-Block Mountain Ranges - In This Case, The Amargosa (East) and Panamints (West).jpg")
%20Devil's%20Golf%20Course%20-%20Several%20Ancient%20Lakes%20Evaporated%2C%20Leaving%20Layers%20of%20Salt%2BGravel%20Deposits%20On%20The%20Valley%20Floor.JPG "v) Devil's Golf Course - Several Ancient Lakes Evaporated, Leaving Layers of Salt+Gravel Deposits On The Valley Floor.JPG")
%20(Unpaved%20Road)%20-%20These%20Layers%20Are%20At%20Least%201000%20Ft%20Deep%20and%20Cover%20An%20Area%20of%20200%20Square%20Miles.JPG "w) (Unpaved Road) - These Layers Are At Least 1000 Ft Deep and Cover An Area of 200 Square Miles.JPG")
%20Lake%20Manly%20-%20The%20Devils%20Hole%20Pupfish%20are%20Remnants%20of%2C%20and%20Clues%20to%2C%20the%20Wetter%20Past%20Here%20(Endangered%20Species).JPG "x) Lake Manly - The Devils Hole Pupfish are Remnants of, and Clues to, the Wetter Past Here (Endangered Species).JPG")
%20Badwater-The%20Lowest%20Point%20in%20DeathValley%20(Accissible%20by%20Car)%2BAmong%20The%20Lowest%20Elevations%20in%20the%20Western%20Hemisphere.JPG "y) Badwater-The Lowest Point in DeathValley (Accissible by Car)+Among The Lowest Elevations in the Western Hemisphere.JPG")
%20Fault%20Lines%20Trending%20North%20to%20South%2C%20Tilting%2BRotating%20Of%20Two%20Blocks%20Between%20Faults%20Created%20Badwater%20Basin.JPG "z) Fault Lines Trending North to South, Tilting+Rotating Of Two Blocks Between Faults Created Badwater Basin.JPG")
%20And%20The%20Mountain%20Ranges%20On%20Either%20Side.JPG "za) And The Mountain Ranges On Either Side.JPG")
%20A%20Surreal%20Landscape%20Of%20Vast%20Salt%20Flats.JPG "zb) A Surreal Landscape Of Vast Salt Flats.JPG")
%20Changing%20Constantly%20-%20Salt%20Crystals%20Expand%2C%20Pushing%20The%20Crust%20of%20Salt%2C%20Into%20Rough%2C%20Chaotic%20Forms.JPG "zc) Changing Constantly - Salt Crystals Expand, Pushing The Crust of Salt, Into Rough, Chaotic Forms.JPG")
%20The%20Source%20of%20Badwater's%20Salts%20Is%20Death%20Valley's%20Drainage%20System%20Of%209000%20Square%20Miles.JPG "zd) The Source of Badwater's Salts Is Death Valley's Drainage System Of 9000 Square Miles.JPG")
%20Here%20At%20The%20Lowest%20Elevation%20Floods%20Come%20To%20Rest%2C%20Forming%20Temporary%20Lakes.JPG "ze) Here At The Lowest Elevation Floods Come To Rest, Forming Temporary Lakes.JPG")
%20As%20The%20Water%20Evaporates%2C%20Minerals%20Concentrate%20Until%20Only%20The%20Salts%20Remain.JPG "zf) As The Water Evaporates, Minerals Concentrate Until Only The Salts Remain.JPG")
%20After%20Thousands%20of%20Years%2C%20Enough%20Salts%20Have%20Washed%20In%20To%20Produce%20Layer%20Upon%20Layer%20of%20Salt%20Crust.JPG "zg) After Thousands of Years, Enough Salts Have Washed In To Produce Layer Upon Layer of Salt Crust.JPG")
%20The%20Permanent%20SpringFed%20Pool%20Is%20Not%20Poisonous%2C%20Although%20It%20Contains%20Very%20Large%20Amounts%20of%20Chloride%2CSodium%2BSulfate.JPG "zh) The Permanent SpringFed Pool Is Not Poisonous, Although It Contains Very Large Amounts of Chloride,Sodium+Sulfate.JPG")
%20The%20SaltFlats%20of%20Badwater%20Are%20Part%20of%20Death%20Valley's%20Greater%20Salt%20Pan%2C%20Which%20Covers%20More%20Than%20200%20Square%20Miles.JPG "zi) The SaltFlats of Badwater Are Part of Death Valley's Greater Salt Pan, Which Covers More Than 200 Square Miles.JPG")
%20The%20SaltFlat's%20Lowest%20Point%20(282%20Ft%20Below%20Sea%20Level)%20Is%20Actually%20Located%20Appr%203%20Miles%20West%20of%20the%20Badwater%20Pools.JPG "zj) The SaltFlat's Lowest Point (282 Ft Below Sea Level) Is Actually Located Appr 3 Miles West of the Badwater Pools.JPG")
%20A%20Soft-Bodied%20Saltwater%20Snail%20(Found%20Only%20in%20the%20Valley!)%2C%20Shares%20The%20Water%20With%20Beetles%2BSoldier%20Fly%20Larvae.JPG "zk) A Soft-Bodied Saltwater Snail (Found Only in the Valley!), Shares The Water With Beetles+Soldier Fly Larvae.JPG")
%20Some%20Other%20Weird%20Creatures%20OutThere%20In%20the%20Valley%20%3B-).JPG "zl) Some Other Weird Creatures OutThere In the Valley ;-).JPG")
%20The%20Shade%20of%20Mirjam%20(With%20Her%20Shoulder%20Bag)%20Taking%20A%20Picture.JPG "zm) The Shade of Mirjam (With Her Shoulder Bag) Taking A Picture.JPG")
%20A%20Picture%20of%20the%20ParkingLot%20-%20What's%20So%20Interesting%20About%20That%20(QuestionMark).JPG "zn) A Picture of the ParkingLot - What's So Interesting About That (QuestionMark).JPG")
%20Hint-Don't%20Pay%20Attention%20To%20The%20Cars%2CInstead%20Look%20%40%20MarkerSign%20Nestled%20There%20Into%20A%20Rocky%20Hill%20of%20the%20Amargosa%20Range.JPG "zo) Hint-Don't Pay Attention To The Cars,Instead Look @ MarkerSign Nestled There Into A Rocky Hill of the Amargosa Range.JPG")
%20There%20You%20Go!%20That's%20The%20SeaLevel%20Overthere%20(Zoomed%20In)%20-%20279.8%20Feet%20Above%20Us.JPG "zp) There You Go! That's The SeaLevel Overthere (Zoomed In) - 279.8 Feet Above Us.JPG")
%20And%20How%20Many%20Feet%20From%20The%20Moon%20~%20It's%20All%20Relative%2C%20isn't%20it%20%3B-).JPG "zq) And How Many Feet From The Moon ~ It's All Relative, isn't it ;-).JPG")
%20Okay%2C%20Enough%20of%20Your%20Shenanigans%20~%20Let's%20Move%20On%20Before%20It's%20Getting%20Dark.JPG "zr) Okay, Enough of Your Shenanigans ~ Let's Move On Before It's Getting Dark.JPG")
%20Going%20Back%20Up%20North%20-%20Sunset%20Is%20Settling%20In%20Already%20....JPG "zs) Going Back Up North - Sunset Is Settling In Already ....JPG")
%20Arriving%20at%20Zabriskie%20Point%2C%20Just%20On%20Time%20(Although%20Sunset%20Already%20In%20Full%20Motion).JPG "zt) Arriving at Zabriskie Point, Just On Time (Although Sunset Already In Full Motion).JPG")
%20This%20Spot%20Provides%20An%20Excellent%20View%20Of%20The%20Furnace%20Creek%20Badlands%2C%20A%20Vast%20Area%20Of%20Uplifted%2C%20Eroded%20Yellow%20Hills.JPG "zu) This Spot Provides An Excellent View Of The Furnace Creek Badlands, A Vast Area Of Uplifted, Eroded Yellow Hills.JPG")
%20These%20Unusual%20Contours%20Are%20the%20Remains%20Of%20A%20Lake%20Bed%20Whose%20Sediments%20Were%20Deposited%205-10%20Million%20Years%20Ago.JPG "zv) These Unusual Contours Are the Remains Of A Lake Bed Whose Sediments Were Deposited 5-10 Million Years Ago.JPG")
%20Zabriskie%20Point%20-%20Silent%20Now%20But%20Guilty%20Of%20A%20Voilent%20Ancient%20Past.JPG "zx) Zabriskie Point - Silent Now But Guilty Of A Voilent Ancient Past.JPG")
%20This%20Arid%20Scene%20Is%20The%20Result%20Of%20Often%20Voilent%20Action%20Of%20Water%2BEarthquakes.JPG "zy) This Arid Scene Is The Result Of Often Voilent Action Of Water+Earthquakes.JPG"){kind=small}
%20Volcanic%20Ash%20Washed%20Into%20The%20Lake%2C%20Settling%20to%20the%20Bottom%2C%20Creating%20The%20Thick%20Deposit%20of%20Clay%2C%20Sandstone%2BSiltstone.JPG "zz) Volcanic Ash Washed Into The Lake, Settling to the Bottom, Creating The Thick Deposit of Clay, Sandstone+Siltstone.JPG"){kind=small}
%20Add%20An%20Earthquake%2BRainstorms%20To%20It%20...%20And%20Voila!%20The%20Chaotic%2C%20Yet%20Strangly%20Beautiful%20Landscape%20We%20See%20Today.JPG "zza) Add An Earthquake+Rainstorms To It ... And Voila! The Chaotic, Yet Strangly Beautiful Landscape We See Today.JPG")
%20And%20Of%20course%20...%20The%20Consequences%20of%20Volcanic%20Activities%20Were%20Also%20Very%20Present%20%40%20This%20Geological%20LandScape%20Party.JPG "zzb) And Of course ... The Consequences of Volcanic Activities Were Also Very Present @ This Geological LandScape Party.JPG")
%20Quite%20Some%20Action%20In%20Those%20Days%20....JPG "zzc) Quite Some Action In Those Days ....JPG")
%20Glad%20We%20Were%20Not%20Invited%20To%20That%20Party%20%3B-).JPG "zzd) Glad We Were Not Invited To That Party ;-).JPG")
%20Towards%20Full%20Moon%2C%20Giving%20Us%20Some%20Extra%20Light.JPG "zze) Towards Full Moon, Giving Us Some Extra Light.JPG")
%20Reaching%20For%20The%20Last%20Hints%20of%20Sights.JPG "zzf) Reaching For The Last Hints of Sights.JPG")
%20Zabriskie%20Point%20And%20The%20Surrounding%20Badlands%20Are%20Comprised%20of%20Mud%2BSiltstone%20And%20Support%20Almost%20No%20Vegetation.JPG "zzg) Zabriskie Point And The Surrounding Badlands Are Comprised of Mud+Siltstone And Support Almost No Vegetation.JPG")
%20Back%20To%20The%20Car%20-%20Btw%2C%20Badlands%20Means%20Barren%20Land%20Characterized%20By%20Roughly%20Eroded%20Ridges%2C%20Peaks%2C%20And%20Mesas.JPG "zzh) Back To The Car - Btw, Badlands Means Barren Land Characterized By Roughly Eroded Ridges, Peaks, And Mesas.JPG")
%20Back%20to%20Furnace%20Creek%20Area%20(Just%20Around%20The%20Corner%20Of%20Zabriskie%20Point).JPG "zzi) Back to Furnace Creek Area (Just Around The Corner Of Zabriskie Point).JPG")
%20Swinging%20by%20the%20Furnace%20Creek%20Inn%20(Upscale%20Resort%20aka%20Hotel)%20-%20A%20Walk%20Through%20The%20Golden%20Tunnel.JPG "zzj) Swinging by the Furnace Creek Inn (Upscale Resort aka Hotel) - A Walk Through The Golden Tunnel.JPG")
%20(MOVIE)Golden%20Tunnel%20Located%20Underneath%20This%20Elegant%2C%204-Diamond%20Resort%20Surrounded%20By%20the%20Panamint%20Mountains.jpg "zzk) (MOVIE)Golden Tunnel Located Underneath This Elegant, 4-Diamond Resort Surrounded By the Panamint Mountains.jpg")
%20Back%20In%20Our%20Own%20Comfy%20Cabin%20of%20the%20Furnace%20Creek%20Ranch%20%3B-)%20Drinks%2BDinner%20at%20the%20Corkscrew%20Saloon%20and%2049er%20Cafe.JPG "zzl) Back In Our Own Comfy Cabin of the Furnace Creek Ranch ;-) Drinks+Dinner at the Corkscrew Saloon and 49er Cafe.JPG")