Roadside Geology

When the first edition of Roadside Geology of Oregon was published in 1978, it was revolutionary- the first book in a series designed to educate, inspire, and wow non-geologists. Back then, the implications of plate tectonic theory were only beginning to shape geologic research and discussion. Geologists hadn't yet learned that Oregon's Klamath and Blue Mountains were pieces of far-traveled island arcs and ocean basins that had been piled against the growing North American continent. Steaming volcanoes, ghost forests, recent landslides, and towns heated with geothermal energy attest to Oregon's still-prominent position at the edge of an active tectonic plate.

The third edition of this popular guide is now even better-it's full color. Colorado's multihued rocks-from white and red sandstones to green shales and pink granites-are vividly splashed across the pages in stunning color photographs. Detailed color maps and diagrams clearly distill the state's complex bedrock geology. Updated text includes information about new discoveries, such as the mastodons and other Pleistocene fossils found at Snowmass, and new parks, such as Chimney Rock National Monument. Roadside Geology of Colorado is a must-have for any Colorado rock enthusiast.

The biggest US state is full of superlatives. Denali, the highest peak in North America at 20,320 feet, is still rising, pushed upward as a tectonic plate collides from the south. The collision has also created huge mountains along Alaska's Gulf Coast, where humid coastal air has produced the largest subpolar icefield in North America. The exceptional heights of Alaska's mountains are mirrored below sea level by the 22,377-foot-deep trench of the active subduction zone along Alaska's southern shore. Earthquakes associated with the subduction zone shake Alaskans frequently, and the magnitude 9.2 earthquake in 1964, with its epicenter in Prince William Sound, was one of the largest seismic events ever recorded. Such an active geologic setting calls for an updated edition of this popular roadside geology guide. Since the first edition was published in 1988, volcanoes have erupted, faults have ruptured, glaciers have retreated, permafrost has thawed, and geologic interpretations have changed. Author Cathy Connor discusses the latest findings as she guides readers along the roads of Alaska and adjacent parts of British Columbia and the Yukon. In addition to roads and national parks, the book covers the "boatside geology" of Alaska, including the fjords of southeast Alaska, islands in the Bering Sea, and the Tatshenshini River. Roadside Geology of Alaska is a must-have for any Alaska rock enthusiast.

Arches National Park. Bryce Canyon. Zion. When one thinks of Utah, its rocks and iconic landforms-preserved in a nearly endless list of national parks and monuments-come immediately to mind. Perhaps more so than any other state, Utah is built for geologic explorations, and geologists/authors Felicie Williams, Lucy Chronic, and Halka Chronic are its expert tour guides. The Beehive State is splitting at the seams with wondrous geological contrast. Utah's high mountains, showcasing the results of what happens as the Earth bends, folds, and breaks itself apart, run like a backbone down the center of the state. To the east, the Colorado Plateau's flat-lying sedimentary rock is wondrously exposed in canyons, arches, and breaks. To the west is the immense Great Basin, a region characterized by long narrow, gaunt mountain ranges alternating with desert basins. Roadside Geology of Utah's 65 road guides traverse the state's major thoroughfares as well as its dusty, sleepy, winding two-lane highways. With fresh prose and more than 300 color photos, maps, and figures to boot, you too will become expert at reading Utah's rocks.