Join geologist Kirt Kempter as he explores the geology of Western National Parks over the course of 2023, with an in-depth look at one location every month. Each program’s content is enhanced by geologic maps, photos, and Google Earth flyovers to reinforce geologic concepts and interpretations.
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Yosemite, California
Many consider Yosemite to be the crown jewel of the National Park system. First protected in 1864 the park presents a stunning glaciated landscape, including classic U-shaped valleys, moraines, and hanging valleys with iconic waterfalls. Massive granite intrusions form the main rock in the park, mostly intruded during the Cretaceous Period and related to the subduction of the Farallon plate beneath the western margin of North America. Half Dome, El Capitan, and Sentinel Rock are superb monoliths of granite within the park. The Pleistocene glaciers, granitic rocks, and uplift of the Sierra Nevada Mountains are part of the fascinating geologic story of Central California.
Additional Geology of Western National Parks Programs
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