Joshua Tree National ParkLocated just a 2 hour drive east of Los Angeles, this park offers stargazin
Joshua Tree National ParkLocated just a 2 hour drive east of Los Angeles, this park offers stargazing, climbing and camping, surrounded by stunning granite outcrops and famous Joshua trees.Many visit Joshua Tree for its beautifully surreal expanse of distinctively weathered monzogranites. The granite intruded as a large pluton approximately 100 million years ago, and has since been predominantly weathered by groundwater, flowing through its cooling joints whilst it was buried underground. Significant erosion by the water fragmented, rounded and smoothed the rock, in places breaking it into large boulders. This prolonged action of groundwater has created the intermittent outcroppings of monzogranite seen at the park’s surface today.Away from the artificial lighting and pollution of any nearby cities, the stargazing at Joshua tree is as visible as anywhere. Best observed on clear, moonless summer nights for the best view, a vivid scene of the milky way and its major constellations can be viewed from the park at night. This scene, with the Joshua trees amongst the granite outcrops create a unique setting at the park, one that that is a must-see for any residents or tourists in southern California.-WAVImage Credit: Evan Kokoska (http://bit.ly/1SF338w)References:http://bit.ly/23JkQnhhttp://1.usa.gov/1T89NyVhttp://1.usa.gov/1XyEy1h -- source link
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