[Advertise on Unearthed Outdoors]
Questions, comments, and bug reports should be directed to our forums.
This web page was written by Seth Price.
[138 views since Sat Nov 18 15:04:42 2006]
[render: 0.9 sec]
Park: Devils Tower National Monument
Section: Photos
| Preview | Name | Overall | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sign on Approch to Devil's Tower |  | Devils Tower Although Devils Tower has long been a prominent landmark in northeastern Wyoming, the origin of the mammoth rock obelisk remains somewhat obscure. Geologists agree that Devils Tower consists of a molten rock forced upwards form deep within the earth. Debate continues, however, as to whether Devils Tower is solidified lava from the neck of an ancient volcano, the walls of which eroded long ago, or whether it is a sheet of molten rock which was injected between rock layers. The characteristic furrowed columns are apparently the result of uniformly-arranged cracks which appeared during the cooling of the volcanic magma. Geologic estimates have placed the age of Devils Tower at greater than fifty million years, although it is likely that erosion uncovered the rock formation only one or two million years ago. the unique geological attributes of Devils Tower stimulated several early preservation efforts. In 1892 Wyoming Senator Francis E. Warren persuaded the General Land Office to create a timber reserve which surrounded the Tower. Senator Warren also launched an unsuccessful effort to declare the entire area a national park. In 1906 Congress passed the Antiquities Act which empowered the President to bestow national monument status upon federally owned lands that contain historic landmarks, historic or prehistoric structures, and other significant historic or scientific objects. President Theodore Roosevelt quickly invoked the Antiquities Act, designating Devils Tower the nation's first national monument in 1906. The National Park Service was created in 1916 and eventually assumed administrative control of all national monuments. |
 | Tower from a Distance | | |
 | Entrance Sign | | |
 | Tower & Flag | | |
 | Collapsing Tower Informational Sign | | Collapsing Tower Boulders at the base foretell the Tower's future. With noon glare and midnight frost, weather is always prying at the cracks. When a column falls, lichen begins to paint the shattered rock. According to geologists the last big slab peeled off over 10,000 years ago - a clue to how long the Tower will stand. |
 | Looking Up the Tower | | |
 | Trailhead Sign | | Tower Trail Other sides of the Tower No two views are alike. In the play of light and shadow between columns, sense the Tower's molten origins. Read its future in huge pillars shattered at the base. As you walk around it, the rock comes alive. Notice deer tracks, vultures riding a thermal, climbers attacking a steeper route. Bring binoculars, a hat, a camera. Avoid poison ivy. Rattlesnakes may be seen. |
View options
You can change how you view this list by changing the options below. Once you have made your changes, apply them by clicking the "Change View" button.