Land Of Fire And Water

Land Of Fire And Water. The Dynamic Terrain. The geologic story of Hells Canyon National Recreation Area is a tale of fire and water...of molten lava erupted from volcanoes and oozed through cracks in the earth...of rushing water, erosion and sedimentation...of building up and wearing down...of folding and faulting and tremendous pressures under the earth’s crust. The results of millions of years of geologic activity are visible from Hells Canyon Overlook. , , Small earthquakes in the region during the past few decades remind us that the earth beneath us is restless still. Movement along faults, rockfalls and landslides, intense storms and melting snow, water cascading into the Snake River from tributary streams, and fluctuating water levels in the canyon continue to shape this dynamic landscape. The Snake River rapids themselves are constantly-changing obstacles. Those who are adventurous enough to run them, must learn to read the changing faces of both water and rock.