23 May 2012

Fossil Falls fun

Posted by Callan Bentley

A few shots from Fossil Falls, in the southern Owens Valley, California…

This is the now-dry river bed of the Owens River. There’s abundant evidence of water-induced erosion (potholes, polishing, etc.), but nary a drop of water to be seen – Though this particular portion of the Owens River drainage dried up in the Pleistocene, it parallels the more recent history of the valley’s water resources, which are now being put to good use watering lawns in Los Angeles.

The Owens Valley is kind of like beef jerky – it’s been preserved because it was intentionally dried out…