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Erosional Landforms |
The hydrologic system, which includes all possible paths of motion of Earth's near-surface fluids including air and water, is largely responsible for the variety of landforms found on the continents. Heat from the sun evaporates water from oceans, lakes, and streams. Although most of the water returns directly as precipitation to the oceans, some of the water is recipitated over land as rain or snow. If it is precipitated over land, it then begins its journey back to the sea as "runoff." The relentless action of surface runoff, streams, and rivers, glaciers, and waves sculpts the rock into intriguing and bizarre shapes. This set of slides includes examples of wave erosion, wind and water erosion, valley shapes, and glacial rosion. The views are often dramatic. Many were taken at U.S. National Parks and Monuments. |
Headlands and arches on Oregon coast
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Headlands and sea stacks on Oregon coast
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Alcove in canyon wall, Lake Powell, Arizona
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Delicate Arch, Moab, Utah
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Balancing Rock, Moab, Utah
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Rainbow Bridge, Arizona
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Alcove in canyon wall, Lake Powell, Arizona
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Cross-bedding, Zion National Park, Utah
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Cliff erosion, Bryce Canyon, Utah
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Canyonlands, Moab, Utah
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Whittier Trail, Canyonlands, Utah
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San Andreas Fault, California
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Devils Tower, Wyoming
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V-shaped valley, Zion National Park, Utah
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Mature Grand Valley, Colorado
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U-shaped valley, Alberta, Canada
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U-shaped valley, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
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Glacial erosion, Grand Tetons, Wyoming
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Hanging Valley, Yosemite National Park, California
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Glacier in Ice Fields Parkway, Canada
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