Vantage in Kittitas County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)
Explore Massive Floodscapes!
Under Water
During the largest floods, water backed up behind constrictions, such as Wallula Gap, forming temporary lakes that flooded vast low-lying areas of eastern Washington. In these places, floodwater dumped huge amounts of sand and silt, helping to creat the rich agricultural soils we value today.
Are You a Landscape Detective?
Rocks, plants, and landscape features provide us with many clues about the Ice Age floods and other stories of the area’s past. What do the large column-shaped rocks tell you?
(Left Photo Caption)
Ice Age floods carved Frenchman Coulee and left this remarkable feature, called the Feathers. The coulee is located across the river, about 10 miles from here.
(Center Photo Caption)
Created by Ice Age floods, the now-waterless Dry Falls would have dwarfed Niagara Falls. This amazing feature is located about 50 miles northeast of here.
(Right Photo Caption)
As basalt lava cools and solidifies, it begins to shrink, causing the rock t crack. This causes some of the rock to form into long columns, called columnar basalt.
Erected by Washington State Parks.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Natural Features.
Location. 46° 57.285′ N, 119° 59.274′ 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. In the Path of Cataclysmic Floods (here, next to this marker); A Living Landscape (here, next to this marker); Carving Out Basalt Layers (a few steps from this marker); Here and Gone (a few steps from this marker); Buried by Enormous Lava Floods (within shouting distance of this marker); Welcome to Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park (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 283 times since then and 5 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 2, 2015, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. 4. submitted on January 29, 2014, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas.
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