La Ventana Arch - El Malpais National Monument EarthCache
La Ventana Arch - El Malpais National Monument
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Located in New Mexico’s El Malpais National Monument, off of NM117 on the eastern boundary of the monument, this geological feature is one of the state’s largest natural arches.
Taking New Mexico route 117 south from I-40, provides a scenic drive along the McCarty's Lava Flow. This is the youngest flow within El Malpais and is dated between 2000-3000 years old. The coordinates take you near parking area near the feature with a short round trip hike (less than half a mile).
El Malpais National Monument lies in the high desert lands south of I-40 midway between Gallup and Albuquerque, New Mexico. El Malpais National Monument and Conservation Area are always open to visitors except the Sandstone Bluffs Overlook (This area closes at dusk). El Malpais is Spanish for “Badlands” or “Bad Country”. To the east of the monument are reservation lands of the Laguna and Acoma Native American Tribes, to the west are those of the Zuni and Ramah Navajo.
The geological features in the area contrast sharply, massive lava flows & cinder cones to the west and south, sandstone buffs to the east, and Mt. Taylor and the Zuni Mountains to the north. During the Jurassic period the present area resembled the Sahara Desert of today.
The Jurassic period sand dunes were eventually buried by sediment. The weight turned the dunes into stone (Zuni Sandstone). As time passed, the earth experienced some growing pains, causing the massive Zuni Sandstone formations to shift and crack. As water passed along these cracks, the cemented grains of sand began to dissolve causing the cracks to widen. As water deposited and froze in these cracks, the cracks widened even further. This erosion and widening eventually caused the sandstone to break away, which over time formed the arch we see today. As part of the logging requirement, please read the informational sign along the trail.
To Log this EarthCache:
• Send me a note stating the number of years ago during the Jurassic period this area began to form sand dunes (answer is on the only informational sign)
• Post a picture of yourself or GPS in front of the arch.
Please begin your e-mail with the name of the earthcache and make sure your log includes the number of people in your group.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Obahf Dhrfgvba: Jung qbrf Yn Iragnan zrna?