Vantage in Kittitas County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)
Buried by Enormous Lava Floods
In all, more than 300 individual lava flows inundated parts of the Columbia Basin. One of these, called the Gingko flow, buried ancient Vantage Lake under a thick layer of basalt. Water-soaked logs in the lake were slowly petrified, forever preserving them as stone.
Setting the Stage
The cake-like layers of basalt built the foundation of the region. When the Ice Age floods swept across eastern Washington and down the Columbia River, they carved long, steep-walled flood channels deep into the basalt bedrock.
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More than 40,000 cubic miles of basalt lava covered parts of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.
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Several layers of basalt are visible in the cliffs along both sides of the Columbia River.
Erected by Washington State Parks.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Natural Features.
Location. 46° 57.284′ N, 119° 59.297′ W. Marker is in Vantage, Washington, in Kittitas County. Marker can be reached from Ginkgo Avenue, half a mile north of Vantage Highway. Marker is located at the interpretive center for the Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park; a entrance fee may be required. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Vantage WA 98950, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Welcome to Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park (here, next to this marker); In the Path of Cataclysmic Floods (within shouting distance of this marker); Explore Massive Floodscapes! (within shouting distance of this marker); A Living Landscape (within shouting distance of this marker); Carving Out Basalt Layers (within shouting distance of this marker); Here and Gone (within shouting distance of this marker); The Wanapums (approx. 1.2 miles away); Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park (approx. 1.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Vantage.
Also see . . . Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park - Wikipedia entry. (Submitted on May 2, 2015.)
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on May 2, 2015, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. This page has been viewed 347 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 2, 2015, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas.
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