Windows Into the Earth : The Geologic Story of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks

Millions of years ago, the North American continent was dragged over the world's largest continental hotspot, a huge column of hot and molten rock rising from the Earth's 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 Earth's 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 Earth's creative forces. These Two Parks Are Windows Into The Earth's Interior, Revealing The Violent Power Of The Dynamic Processes Within. In Windows Into The Earth Robert Smith And Lee Siegel Offer Guidance Through This 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 Beauty Of The Landscape, While Two Final Chapters Provide Driving Tours Of The Parks To Help Visitors Enjoy And Understand The Regions' Wonders.--book Jacket. A Land Of Scenery And Violence -- In The Wake Of The Yellowstone Hotspot -- Cataclysm! -- The Hotspot Reaches Yellowstone -- How Yellowstone Works -- The Broken Earth -- Why The Tetons Are Grand -- Ice Over Fire -- Glaciers Carve The Landscape -- Future Disasters -- Grand Teton Tour -- Yellowstone Tour -- Internet Sites. Robert B. Smith And Lee J. Siegel. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Contents......Page 8 Preface......Page 10 Acknowledgments......Page 12 1 A Land of Scenery and Violence......Page 16 2 In the Wake of the Yellowstone Hotspot......Page 36 3 Cataclysm!: The Hotspot Reaches Yellowstone......Page 60 4 How Yellowstone Works......Page 78 5 The Broken Earth: Why the Tetons Are Grand......Page 102 6 Ice over Fire: Glaciers Carve the Landscape......Page 124 7 Future Disasters......Page 146 8 Grand Teton Tour......Page 162 9 Yellowstone Tour......Page 188 Internet Sites......Page 226 References......Page 230 B......Page 240 C......Page 241 D......Page 242 F......Page 243 G......Page 244 H......Page 245 J......Page 246 M......Page 247 P......Page 249 R......Page 250 S......Page 251 T......Page 252 V......Page 253 Y......Page 254 Millions of years ago, the North American continent was dragged over the world's largest continental hotspot (a huge column of molten rock rising from the earth's interior), tracing a 5 mile wide, 500 mile long path northeastward across Idaho and generating huge volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. The hotspot lifted the Yellowstone Plateau to more than 7000 feet and pushed the Northern Rockies to new heights. This book is the story of those events and how the landscape of the two great national parks was shaped by earthquakes, volcanoes, geysers and, in the uplifted Rocky Mountains, mountain glaciers. The story is also a 'window' into the earth's interior, revealing the dynamic processes within This is the story of the events that shaped the landscape of the Yellowstone Plateau and the Rockies. Offering a window into the dynamic processes within the earth's interior, it begins from events millions of years ago, and explains how the landscape was created by huge volcanoes and earthquakes. Millions of years ago, the North American continent was dragged over the world's largest continental hotspot (a huge column of molten rock rising from the Earth's interior), generating huge volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. This is the story of those events and their effects. It was the busy summer season in Yellowstone National Park, a beautiful moonlit night with 18,000 people in the park's campgrounds and hotels and thousands more in surrounding towns and recreation areas.