- V
irginia's geologic
biography is a tremendous tale that
spans over three billion years. Entire lifetimes have been spent in the
discovery of this story, and for geologists, its telling lies in the
ridges and valleys and fields surrounding our every day. For eyes trained
to notice, rubbled limestone fields become vast ancient oceans, and the
wearily rounded ridges become remnants of a tremendous past, where
continents collided and mountains swelled to sizes greater than the
present day Himalayas.
Such wealth of
information surrounds us, and some of Virginia's most spectacular stories
are visible out the car window of your daily commutes. Paroramic views
along the Skyline Drive, the road cuts beside Route 66 as it barrels
through the mountains- these only begin to describe the opportunities for
non- professionals to puzzle out some past and present geology.
- For the more curious minded, highlighted words provide access to more detailed information banks. Demystify technical terms with the glossary, use the geologic time scale to glimpse the age of the rocks you examine, and click on the running geologic history to read about what has happened to these rocks since their initial deposition.
- Remember though, this page is only a virtual tour and geology is always best understood in the field. So print as you tour the pages and take it with you on your travels from Harrisonburg. Good luck and drive safely...