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Arizona's Wave rock formation a stone-cold stunner
L.A.Times ^ | 11-25-07 | Hugo Maratin

Posted on 11/26/2007 6:00:52 AM PST by em2vn

So there I was, standing with about 30 other hikers in boots and backpacks, jammed into a room no bigger than a double-wide in a one-story beige government building in a destitute moonscape otherwise known as southern Utah on a warm Friday morning....After a few minutes' rest, we headed south, looking to a tall, gray ridge on the horizon for a huge vertical crack that marked the entrance to the Wave.

(Excerpt) Read more at travel.latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: page; utah; wave
Can anyone with knowledge of Fluid Mechanics explain how these distinct striations were made over time and, not by the application of a singular dynamic force.
1 posted on 11/26/2007 6:00:52 AM PST by em2vn
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To: em2vn

Obviously God made them that way 6K years ago.


2 posted on 11/26/2007 6:02:49 AM PST by SengirV
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To: em2vn

3 posted on 11/26/2007 6:05:46 AM PST by Red Badger ( We don't have science, but we do have consensus.......)
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To: em2vn

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Am9URG76BzI


4 posted on 11/26/2007 6:06:45 AM PST by Red Badger ( We don't have science, but we do have consensus.......)
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To: Red Badger

Why would *anyone* make that video? It seem pretty useless to me.


5 posted on 11/26/2007 6:08:18 AM PST by ShadowAce (Linux -- The Ultimate Windows Service Pack)
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To: em2vn

What you are seeing is aeolian dunes formed on an ancient beach area. The wind blown sands piled up in varying directions and sometimes were swept flat by water before a new set of dunes were formed. These eventually were solidified as sandstone. What you are seeing is the erosional remains of all those years of buried dunes. The weird shapes were formed by water erosion of the sandstone formation. Because of the varying direction and tilt of the dune faces, the striations are as varied.


6 posted on 11/26/2007 6:09:55 AM PST by doodad
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To: ShadowAce

99.99999% of the YouTube catalog is pretty much useless junk............


7 posted on 11/26/2007 6:10:38 AM PST by Red Badger ( We don't have science, but we do have consensus.......)
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To: ShadowAce; Red Badger
Why would *anyone* make that video? It seem pretty useless to me.

For the aliens to intercept and learn about our culture.

All of the satellite uplinks have 'overspray' so everytime someone downloads this, you're painting the universe with it.

8 posted on 11/26/2007 6:22:04 AM PST by sam_paine (X .................................)
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To: sam_paine; Red Badger
...you're painting the universe with it.

So--what you're saying is that I'm helping to kill the universe? :)

9 posted on 11/26/2007 6:24:39 AM PST by ShadowAce (Linux -- The Ultimate Windows Service Pack)
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To: doodad

...aeolian ....

Last time I saw that word was in a sex novel..........


10 posted on 11/26/2007 6:25:05 AM PST by Red Badger ( We don't have science, but we do have consensus.......)
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To: ShadowAce

...only if you “look” at it.....
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1928969/posts


11 posted on 11/26/2007 6:25:55 AM PST by Red Badger ( We don't have science, but we do have consensus.......)
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To: Red Badger

LOL! That was the thread I was looking for! Thanks!


12 posted on 11/26/2007 6:27:36 AM PST by ShadowAce (Linux -- The Ultimate Windows Service Pack)
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To: em2vn

I have to see that. Awesome! Thanks for the post.


13 posted on 11/26/2007 6:42:11 AM PST by gotribe (I've been disenfranchised by the GOP.)
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To: Red Badger
in a sex novel..........

A BeeLine Novel...?

14 posted on 11/26/2007 6:44:10 AM PST by theDentist (Qwerty ergo typo : I type, therefore I misspelll.)
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To: theDentist

....Like I noticed who the publisher was.........


15 posted on 11/26/2007 6:46:46 AM PST by Red Badger ( We don't have science, but we do have consensus.......)
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To: doodad

“Eventually” sounds like conjecture more than fact. Any empirical data to support that position?


16 posted on 11/26/2007 6:49:25 AM PST by jagusafr ("Bugs, Mr. Rico! Zillions of 'em!" - Robert Heinlein)
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To: em2vn

The rock is sand stone. Water does tremendous designs in the stuff...Along with the mineral content in it. You can actually write your name in that sandstone with your finger.


17 posted on 11/26/2007 6:55:12 AM PST by hope (Isaiah 53 (not redacted))
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To: em2vn

Anyone here good at finding such things on google earth?


18 posted on 11/26/2007 6:58:09 AM PST by posterchild ("Congress does two things very well: one is nothing and two is overreact." - Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga)
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To: em2vn

http://www.photoseek.com/03AZ-04-31-TheWave.jpg


19 posted on 11/26/2007 7:01:47 AM PST by Between the Lines (I am very cognizant of my fallibility, sinfulness, and other limitations.)
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To: Between the Lines

20 posted on 11/26/2007 7:08:57 AM PST by blam (Secure the border and enforce the law)
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To: em2vn
Can anyone with knowledge of Fluid Mechanics explain how these distinct striations were made over time and, not by the application of a singular dynamic force.

sure looks like a "singular dynamic force" doesn't it _ what with the very obvious level-line across the top. Looks like some giant flash flood or some such came through one day...swooshed the sand around and then the pattern got 'frozen' through decades of baking sun

21 posted on 11/26/2007 7:40:42 AM PST by maine-iac7 (",,,but you can't fool all of the people all the time" LINCOLN)
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To: doodad

“What you are seeing is aeolian dunes formed on an ancient beach area. The wind blown sands piled up in varying directions and sometimes were swept flat by water before a new set of dunes were formed. These eventually were solidified as sandstone. What you are seeing is the erosional remains of all those years of buried dunes. The weird shapes were formed by water erosion of the sandstone formation. Because of the varying direction and tilt of the dune faces, the striations are as varied.”

Right! As SengirV said, “Obviously God made them that way 6K years ago.”


22 posted on 11/26/2007 7:49:23 AM PST by RoadTest ("The Lord bringeth the council of the heathen to naught" - Psalm 33, verse 10)
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To: blam
Hey, that dude's walking on Saturn's rings!


23 posted on 11/26/2007 8:02:20 AM PST by Larry Lucido (Hunter 2008)
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To: em2vn
Here is another famous location featuring the same kind of wind blown strata. This is from Zion National Park which is nearby Paria/Vermillion. Probably the same formation.
24 posted on 11/26/2007 8:13:33 AM PST by doodad
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To: Red Badger; doodad
...aeolian ....
Last time I saw that word was in a sex novel..........

You obviously aren't a musician. :-)

25 posted on 11/26/2007 8:19:27 AM PST by NotJustAnotherPrettyFace
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To: doodad

The whole area in the “four corners” region is a hikers/bikers/jeepers paradise. Bring your own water, tool-kit, food, etc.

Oncet while I was there in the Canyonlands area, a nice British couples’ jeep rental transmission decided to give way. The nearest tow was Nations’ Towing, out of Moab. About 800 bucks for a tow, and that was years ago. But it has some unique (truly) scenery and freedom that is really spectacular.


26 posted on 11/26/2007 8:19:56 AM PST by Freedom4US
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To: jagusafr

The ones that have been developed by scientists to place approximate ages on things such as superposition, stratigraphy, certain mineral isotopes, fossil records, uniformity etc. Not sure if that is what you meant; I certainly did not do the dating, but I have been in this area and seen the spectacular results of time and erosion. My favorite part of the country with its whimsical rock formations and stunning vistas. You can’t help but think God was in a playful mood when he created it.


27 posted on 11/26/2007 8:21:36 AM PST by doodad
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To: maine-iac7

No, it looks like sand morpology features layed down over time and in layers with subsequent erosion creating the effects seen. No single flood even is capable of creating this type of pattern.


28 posted on 11/26/2007 8:24:40 AM PST by doc30 (Democrats are to morals what an Etch-A-Sketch is to Art.)
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To: NotJustAnotherPrettyFace
Main Entry: 1ae·o·lian Listen to the pronunciation of 1aeolian Listen to the pronunciation of 1aeolian Pronunciation: \ē-ˈō-lē-ən, ē-ˈōl-yən\ Function: adjective Date: 1595 1 often capitalized : of or relating to Aeolus2: giving forth or marked by a moaning or sighing sound or musical tone produced by or as if by the wind
29 posted on 11/26/2007 8:24:50 AM PST by Red Badger ( We don't have science, but we do have consensus.......)
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To: Freedom4US

I have been backpacking all over that area, from the Grand Canyon north to Arches. I love it.

Canyonlands was my favorite of them all. We hiked all over it. Elephant Canyon looked like a field of hamburgers with the rounded red and white sandstone formations. We found an ancient Indian burial way in a back portion of the park off trail.


30 posted on 11/26/2007 8:25:27 AM PST by doodad
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To: Red Badger

Looks like some hikers found the taffy motherlode.


31 posted on 11/26/2007 8:30:56 AM PST by budwiesest ("It's the domestic enemies, stupid!")
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To: budwiesest

32 posted on 11/26/2007 8:41:08 AM PST by Red Badger ( We don't have science, but we do have consensus.......)
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To: posterchild
These wave formations are near these coordinates:

36°59'45.05"N Latitude

112° 0'23.38"W Longitude

33 posted on 11/26/2007 8:42:13 AM PST by NotJustAnotherPrettyFace
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To: NotJustAnotherPrettyFace
Aeolian

Æolian means related to Aeolus, the Greek God of wind,

34 posted on 11/26/2007 10:21:25 AM PST by blam (Secure the border and enforce the law)
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To: Red Badger

Don’t know if it’s aeolian but if you go to ANWR and look south toward the mountains you will see layers in the rock that have been bent and raised to vertical as geological forces moved stuff around over a period of time. Folding. Even solid rock isn’t so solid as to be permanent.


35 posted on 11/26/2007 10:28:17 AM PST by RightWhale (anti-razors are pro-life)
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To: doodad
What you are seeing is aeolian dunes formed on an ancient beach area. The wind blown sands piled up in varying directions and sometimes were swept flat by water before a new set of dunes were formed. These eventually were solidified as sandstone. What you are seeing is the erosional remains of all those years of buried dunes. The weird shapes were formed by water erosion of the sandstone formation. Because of the varying direction and tilt of the dune faces, the striations are as varied.

What you said.
36 posted on 11/26/2007 10:31:48 AM PST by aruanan
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To: RightWhale

37 posted on 11/26/2007 10:31:49 AM PST by Red Badger ( We don't have science, but we do have consensus.......)
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To: blam
Æolian means related to Aeolus, the Greek God of wind,

I could have swore Hummus was the Greek God of Wind.............

38 posted on 11/26/2007 10:40:21 AM PST by Red Badger ( We don't have science, but we do have consensus.......)
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To: Freedom4US
"Canyonlands"

Between Canyonlands, Arches, and Monument Valley there's enough spectacular scenery in southern Utah for any tourist to marvel at. My wife and I plan to see Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, and a few others in the near future as well.

39 posted on 11/26/2007 12:01:59 PM PST by driftless2
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To: doodad
"Caqyonlands"

Canyonlands turned out be my wife's and myself's favorite park. And there are numerous great parks in Utah.

40 posted on 11/26/2007 12:04:21 PM PST by driftless2
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To: Red Badger

Beautiful photo and geology. The striping at the bottom was eroded at the top and has a thin layer of flat-lying rock. Then it looks like more of a similar striping rock above it - similar angles but not exact matches. The thin flat layer could have been a short period of time where the area was overlain by water and had calm water depostion).

Then the lighter sandstone at the very top seems to show a third type of depositional environment. (”Every picture tells a story don’t it”).


41 posted on 11/26/2007 12:11:52 PM PST by geopyg (Don't wish for peace, pray for Victory.)
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To: Red Badger

The steep synclines in your post reminded me of one that is faintly observed near Mt. Ararat and has been claimed to be the “petrified wood” of Noah’s Ark.


42 posted on 11/26/2007 12:15:45 PM PST by geopyg (Don't wish for peace, pray for Victory.)
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To: doodad

It is gorgeous, that’s for certain! Glad I’m not in charge of figuring it out.


43 posted on 11/26/2007 12:25:53 PM PST by jagusafr ("Bugs, Mr. Rico! Zillions of 'em!" - Robert Heinlein)
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To: driftless2

It was all the little hidden gems that thrilled my brother and I camping. And CLEAN state parks.

Try Goblin Valley, Kodachrome Basin, Coral Pink Sand Dunes, Colorado National Monument and the back portions of the Grand Canyon and Zion. We owned the north rim of the canyon and while tourists were packed like pigs in Zion Valley, we sat up top in peace and quiet with the best view in the world. And not three miles from our car.


44 posted on 11/26/2007 1:57:20 PM PST by doodad
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To: doodad

You too? I’ve been out there (needles) dozens of times alone. Since Google Earth became popular, I have been able to zoom in on old campsites and it’s amazing the level of resolution they have on the park.

I’d be interested to know where the burial stuff is. I’ve found a lot of interesting stuff out there, but nothing like that! What’s amazing to me, is up until the 1950s the whole area was largely and truly unknown except for a few cowboys and ranchers. The uranium boom of the ‘50s punched a lot of jeep trails, and later on.. Well, you know the rest.


45 posted on 11/26/2007 2:46:18 PM PST by Freedom4US
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To: Red Badger

I’m captivated by that photo - it reminds me of something but I just can’t put my finger on it.


46 posted on 11/26/2007 2:53:59 PM PST by PrivateIdaho ("... like a wild potato.")
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To: Freedom4US

We hiked the first day to Chesler Park as we were running a bit late. If you have never been there to see the cowboy inscriptions from the 1800s make sure next time. There was a slot canyon you could tell they put the horses in and camped at the head of it. The campfire marks were still all over the walls.

From there you take the Joint trail to the horst and graben area near that large pictograph. Somewhere along there we lost the trail to the river and ended up cross country headed north towards the river (and a water tank if necessary on the map). We missed both the trail and the tank and ended up pumping water from a pothole. That is where we found the burial. We moved off east to camp since water was now in hand.

I swear our packs weighed 80 pounds since it was November and we had hot and cold clothes, and all that water! We carried two gallon dromedary bags each and two full liter bottles (when we could).


47 posted on 11/26/2007 3:24:42 PM PST by doodad
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To: doodad

Oh, I have been to Chesler many times, and the cowboy line camp. One of my favorite spots. One time, I hiked in solo in the wintertime. Had the whole dang park to myself it seemed like. Cold as hell, and the slickrock - well, that’s why it’s called slickrock - because with a thin coat of glaze ice, it’s impossible. Or impassable. Maybe with spike cleats, but other than that, forget it. Not going anywhere!

I have avoided the area near the Colorado because I hate carrying that much water! I’ve had good luck with a gallon maybe, a katadyn, and a sharp eye for those potholes. Another interesting area is the Needles Overlook, for a birds eye view of the whole area. But yeah, the elephant canyone area is the coolest. The silence is pretty cool too as a feature of the area. My ears take a day or two to stop ringing, don’t normally notice that except when in the area, because it’s so quiet.


48 posted on 11/26/2007 4:14:40 PM PST by Freedom4US
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To: doc30

That makes sense - wind and weather wearing down the softer layers?


49 posted on 11/27/2007 8:23:09 AM PST by maine-iac7 (",,,but you can't fool all of the people all the time" LINCOLN)
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