After leaving Texas Springs Campground in the morning, we headed south toward Badwater. Enroute to Badwater, we came to this ridge that is oriented east-west, perpendicular to the axis of Death Valley and the common wind direction. The cobbles and boulders on the ridge are ventifacts (rocks whose shape has been modified by the sandblasting effect of the wind). Here Julie Laity describes the origin and usefulness of ventifacts. The side of the rocks facing the camera is the side that has been grooved and polished by wind erosion.
|
