The Spiral Stone Columns Over 6 Meters Tall by Crowley Lake, California, Are Estimated to Be 760,000 Years Old
Along the shores of Crowley Lake in California, USA, stand unusual spiral stone columns reaching over 6 meters high, connected by a towering arch. The scenery here resembles a part of an ancient Moorish temple.
These striking stone columns had been “hidden” for a long time until the waves of the lake began to erode the softer materials at the base of the cliffs.
After many years of research, scientists have determined that these stone columns were formed by cold water seeping down and steam rising from hot volcanic ash released during a cataclysmic eruption around 760,000 years ago.
The peculiar stone columns by Crowley Lake, California, USA.
“These columns are the result of a natural ‘experiment’ in physics regarding hydrothermal convection,” Dr. Noah Randolph-Flagg stated in an interview.
The eruption is believed to have been over 2,000 times larger than the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens, which created the Long Valley Caldera, a depression in eastern California. It also covered much of the eastern Sierra Nevada with a rough volcanic blanket or ash fall.
Randolph-Flagg noted that researchers have not only uncovered the origins of these columns but have also learned a great deal about the surrounding landscape.
He estimates that there are up to 5,000 such stone columns existing in an area of approximately 16 square kilometers. They appear in clusters, varying in size and shape.
Many of the columns are gray, straight like telephone poles, and surrounded by horizontal cracks. Some columns are reddish-orange, while others are bent or all lean at the same angle. Additionally, some columns are half-buried and resemble the fossilized spines of dinosaurs.
The stone columns that are hundreds of thousands of years old.
The stone columns at Crowley Lake, California, are now a popular attraction for visitors. The best way to reach this site is by car. The columns become very prominent in late autumn, winter, and early spring. At certain times of the year, the columns almost “disappear” due to high water levels.
Crowley Lake is a reservoir on the upper Owens River in southern Mono County, California, USA. It is located about 24 kilometers south of the town of Mammoth Lakes.
Crowley Lake has been a favorite spot for anglers for many years. Visitors can rent boats, reserve camping spots, and purchase fishing supplies in the area.
