This example is in the Indian Cove Campground, but other
examples can be found throughout the park.
Inselberg comes from the German meaning island mountain. They
appear as islands of rock rising up from the generally flat
surroundings. These islands are the remaining skeletons of ancient
hills and mountains.
Seven to nine million years ago the region around Joshua Tree is
though to have been similar to the mountains of western Riverside
and Sand Diego of today. Forests and other vegetation supported by
a thick blanket of soil cover those mountains. Valleys formed in
areas where the rock was more jointed (link to earthcache) and
hills formed in areas that were less jointed. At that time, the
environment was wetter to support the vegetation.
As the environment dried, the amount of vegetation decreased and
the soil eroded away leaving the skeleton of the mountain sticking
up out of the desert.
Logging requirements:
Send me a note with :
- The text "GC1BJ43 Inselbergs" on the first line
- The number of people in your group.
- Would the location of the coordinates have been at the top of
an ancient hill or a valley?
- How many inselbergs can you see from your location? ?
The following sources were used to generate this
cache:
- Trent, D.D. & Richard W.
Hazlett, Joshua Tree National Park Geology, Joshua Tree National
Park Association, 2002
Placement approved by the
Joshua Tree National Park