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…
As far as I know, Fossil Falls was abandoned in the Pleistocene.
Yeah – no water ran over it recorded history. There was however, an actual Owens Lake before the aquaduct. Now its just a dust problem for LA.
Thanks guys – So the Owens Valley had a bit of natural beefjerkification at work prior to the accelerated beefjerkification initiated by southern California. I appreciate the correction.
Ah, I remember a particular pothole that was an interesting chimney problem for the rock climbers in the group…