I was inspired by the book “Home Ground,” edited by Barry Lopez. The book is a compilation of words that describe our natural landscapes. Writers from across North America submitted words, including their definitions and history. “Home Ground” is arranged like a dictionary and is full of interesting geological information. I decided to create a piece for each letter of the alphabet. I have worked on this off and on for about ten years.

a

Angle of Repose

The angle of repose is the maximum angle a slope is able to maintain before tumbling down a hill. I was also inspired by Wallace Stegner’s book with the same name.

b

Bergschrund

A bergschrund is a place where a glacier is pulling away from the rock side of a mountain. The movement creates a gash between the rock and ice. Because it is moving, it is unstable and a dangerous place for mountain climbers

c

continental divide: triple divide peak

There are very few continental divides on the Earth where the water will flow into three oceans. Triple Divide Peak is found in Glacier National Park in Montana. The water flows to the Arctic Ocean, the Pacific and the Gulf of Mexico. This is an aerial view.

D

discordant landscape

Discordant landscapes are where two very distinct types of landscape butt up against each other. They could be land and sea, drainage basin near a mountain, or a small discordant landscape right at your toes.

e

Ecotone

An ecotone is where two distinct habitats adjoin. (In this case, a lava field and ocean).

f

fissure

A fissure is a distinctive crack in rock usually associated with volcanic activity. Gasses and lava can ooze through. Fissures are also common on the sides of lava domes.

g

glacial stream

Glacial streams are found all over Washington State (where I live). They are the runoff of the melting ice.

h

hundredth meridian

The hundredth meridian is an imaginary organic line running along the 100th Meridian from the Dakotas through Texas. The origin is from an observation that land to the west is arid land, and to the east is fertile farm land. Today, this organic line of annual rainfall has shifted to the east and now lies at about the 98th longitude line - another indicator of climate change.  This drawing has a shifting divide in the middle to replicate that change.

i

ice cave

Ice caves provide a visual delight with the glowing ice, but I have also felt humbled when hearing the crackle and pop of the moving glacier.

j

jetty

A jetty is a man-made wall built out from the land into the sea, usually protecting the opening of a harbor for safe passage.

k

keys

Keys are a series of small islands. The Florida keys are a good example.

l

leads

Leads are openings in the ice where ships can navigate. The ice is tricky. It can soon freeze over.

m

manche

A manche is a narrow passage of water between land masses. The English Channel is a manche.

n

nickpoint

Nickpoints are found in rivers and streams where the water is flowing over a shelf, creating a mini waterfall. The water can cause erosion, making the nickpoint retreat with time. Some nickppoints are large. Niagra Falls is a nickpoint.

o

open book

Rock climbers enjoy “open books” - where two giant slabs of rock are angled like an open book (maybe at a 90 degree angle), allowing the climber to work off both surfaces.

p

painted desert

Located to the east of the Grand Canyon, the Painted Desert gets its name from the oxides coloring the rock. Erosion allows us to see the layers and colors.

q

quarry

Thousands of years in the making, quarries are rock harvesting points, giving us carving and building material.

r

rimland

Rimland, in the American Southwest, is the upper edge of canyons formed by weathering.

s

slot canyon

Rain, wind and quickly moving water form slot canyons in soft rock. Sometimes the slots are so narrow, we cannot pass through. When we are able to pass through, we are treated to sculpted drama.

t

terrace

Rainwater erodes land into terraces. They form in all different sizes and if a variety of locations all over the world.

u

unconformity

Unconformity is where one of the lower / previous layers of the Earth’s crust does not follow and conform with the newer layers - indicating the Earth’s geological drama.

v

vein

Millions of years in the making, our common rocks have a story to tell. You can hold a rock in your hand and view the layers of cataclysmic geological change.

w

waterpocket fold

Capitol Reef National Park is a 100 mile long gash in the Earth were the crust is folding. Waterpockes are small basins in the rock, giving wildlife fresh rain water.

x

xeriscaping

Xeriscaping is landscape design that needs little (or no) watering.

y

yard

I think of my yard as a retreat from the busy world. We all replenish in nature. This is a representation of the foliage, shadows through the foliage, and a quiet, calm setting.

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z

zigzag rocks

Native Americans would place rocks in river beds in a zigzag pattern. The small pools would make it easier to catch fish.