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Volcanic monoliths
Volcanic monolith are a common slew in the landscape of theAmerican West . rise high up above the often - barren surrounding plain , these social system of igneous stone are testament to a violent volcanic past throughout this area of the world .
El Capitan
Here , just northwards of Kayenta , Ariz. , this volcanic hype is known in the Dine ' language as aghaat’q , meaning " place of wool and hairsbreadth " due to all the animal fur once get on the astute , volcanic Isidor Feinstein Stone . Today it is known as Agathla Peak or by the sobriquet " El Capitan " due to it placement just south of Monument Valley . It is compose of volcanic breccia ( rocks formed from upset minerals and other rocks that has been cement together ) thought to be some 25 million years old . This volcanic plug rises some 1,500 metrical foot ( 457 beat ) above the surrounding eminent desert plains .
Molten magma
Volcanic chaw are form when molten magma solidifies in the pipe or cervix of an combat-ready vent . Over fourth dimension , the agents of wearing away bust the softer surrounding sediments of the volcanic cone away . Morro Rock , testify here , is a volcanic spark plug locate in the Pacific Ocean at Morro Bay , Calif. The Scripture " morro " comes from Spanish and advert to a rough outcrop found in the shallow waters of a harbor .
Morro Rock
Morro Rock is one of the Nine Sisters ( also recognize as the Morros ) found between Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo , Calif. The nine volcanic plugs browse in height from Morro Rock ’s 576 metrical unit ( 176 yard ) to Bishop Peak , which is 1,559 metrical unit ( 475 1000 ) tall . They were spring from volcanic activity that occurred over 20 million years ago .
Volcanic tuff
Some volcanic monolith look like volcanic plugs but are not . Such is the causa of the legendary Weaver ’s Needle found in the Superstition Mountains east of Phoenix . Named after mickle man Pauline Weaver , who first explored thisSonoran Desert wild areain 1831 , this thick stratum of volcanic tufa rise 1,000 feet ( 300 m ) above the desert floor .
Weaver’s Needle
Weaver ’s Needle is a part of the 160,000 - Accho Superstition Wilderness Area and is locate at the northern end of Peralta Canyon . The fused volcanic ash ( tuff ) has been heavily eroded resulting in this distinctive monolith that can been seen from international mile away . The volcanic activity that formed all of the Superstition Mountain Wilderness straddle in age from 3 million to 25 million years old . The phantasm mould by Weaver ’s Needle plays a cardinal function in the continual lookup for the legendary Lost Dutchman Gold Mine .
Peralta Canyon
Some modern geologist think that the Superstition Mountains are the result of a magnanimous caldera collapse that come about some 29 million years ago . Pre - Cambriangranitescan be found in a few quarantined area formed from intrusive igneous rocks . The many eons of volcanic activity have result today in a wonderland of rock formations throughout the part with the volcanic monolith , Weaver ’s Needle , being the most prominent .
Misunderstanding
On the northeastern field of Wyoming stands an enormous volcanic monolith bang to the Lakota Indians as Mato Tipila , intend " Bear Lodge . " An 1875 U.S. Army interpreter translated the Lakota Christian Bible to signify " bad gods tower " and before long the solder were call it Devils Tower .
Devils Tower
arise some 867 feet ( 264 m ) above the surrounding landscape , Devils Tower is considered the most noteworthy feature of theAmerican Great Plains . Devils Tower is a part of the Black Hills raft strand and is located near the Belle Fourche River . The summit of Devils Tower has an elevation of 5,112 feet ( 1,558 m ) above sea level .
Sacred place
Native Americans have long considered Devils Tower to be a sanctified spot . The 19th - century pioneers that travelled by covered Charles’s Wain used Devils Tower as a guiding lighthouse as it can be check above the surrounding plains from a space of over 30 miles ( about 50 kilometer ) . Movie producer Steven Spielberg used the geological wonder as the backdrop for this 1977 hit film " Close Encounters of the Third Kind . "
Folklore
The various Plains Indian tribes have several creation stories for Devils Tower . One account William Tell of seven young babe playing in the woods who found themselves being chased by an enormous bear . They skip onto of a flat rock and the Great Spirit caused the rock to grow and grow into an tremendous size . The jumbo bear continued to jump up at the girl and his claws create the gouges in the John Rock wall that can be visit even today . The seven sisters became forever safe in the sky as the Pleiades configuration .
