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Arches National Park

September 18th, 2013

Arches National Park

All about Arches National Park. (courtesy of Wikipedia)

Arches National Park is a U.S. National Park in eastern Utah. It is known for preserving over 2000 natural sandstone arches, including the world-famous Delicate Arch, in addition to a variety of unique geological resources and formations.

The national park lies atop an underground evaporite layer or salt bed, which is the main cause of the formation of the arches, spires, balanced rocks, sandstone fins, and eroded monoliths in the area. This salt bed is thousands of feet thick in places, and was deposited in the Paradox Basin of the Colorado Plateau some 300 million years ago when a sea flowed into the region and eventually evaporated. Over millions of years, the salt bed was covered with debris eroded from the Uncompahgre Uplift to the northeast. During the Early Jurassic (about 210 Ma) desert conditions prevailed in the region and the vast Navajo Sandstone was deposited. An additional sequence of stream laid and windblown sediments, the Entrada Sandstone (about 140 Ma), was deposited on top of the Navajo. Over 5000 feet (1500 m) of younger sediments were deposited and have been mostly eroded away. Remnants of the cover exist in the area including exposures of the Cretaceous Mancos Shale. The arches of the area are developed mostly within the Entrada formation.[4]
The weight of this cover caused the salt bed below it to liquefy and thrust up layers of rock into salt domes. The evaporites of the area formed more unusual salt anticlines or linear regions of uplift.[4] Faulting occurred and whole sections of rock subsided into the areas between the domes. In some places, they turned almost on edge. The result of one such 2,500-foot (760 m) displacement, the Moab Fault, is seen from the visitor center.

As this subsurface movement of salt shaped the landscape, erosion removed the younger rock layers from the surface. Except for isolated remnants, the major formations visible in the park today are the salmon-colored Entrada Sandstone, in which most of the arches form, and the buff-colored Navajo Sandstone. These are visible in layer cake fashion throughout most of the park. Over time, water seeped into the surface cracks, joints, and folds of these layers. Ice formed in the fissures, expanding and putting pressure on surrounding rock, breaking off bits and pieces. Winds later cleaned out the loose particles. A series of free-standing fins remained. Wind and water attacked these fins until, in some, the cementing material gave way and chunks of rock tumbled out. Many damaged fins collapsed. Others, with the right degree of hardness and balance, survived despite their missing sections. These became the famous arches.

Flamingo Facts

July 19th, 2013

Flamingo Facts

Pink is in and so are these facts about flamingos (courtesy of About.com)

1. There are only six species of flamingos, but they are found around the world from the Caribbean and South America to Africa, the Middle East and Europe.

2. The word "flamingo" comes from the Spanish and Latin word "flamenco" which means fire, and refers to the bright color of the birds' feathers.

3. While flamingos are considered wading birds, they are most closely related to grebes genetically.

4. Flamingos are strong but rare swimmers and powerful fliers, even though they're most often seen just wading.

5. When flying in a flock, the top speed of a flamingo can be as high as 35 miles per hour.

6. Flamingos hold their bills upside down while feeding, often for several hours a day, so they can filter out their food while skimming the water.

7. A flamingo chick's bill is small and straight, but will develop the distinct "break" curve after a few months.

8. Flamingos are monogamous birds that lay only a single egg each year. If that egg is lost or damaged, they do not typically lay a replacement.

9. Parent flamingos feed their chicks exclusively crop milk for 5-12 days after hatching. This high fat, high protein substance is not like mammalian milk, but is excellent nutrition for growing chicks.

10. Flamingo chicks are born gray or white and take up to three years to reach their mature pink, orange or red plumage.

11. The pink, orange or red color of a flamingo's feathers is caused by carotenoid pigments in their food, and a flamingo's diet includes shrimp, plankton, algae and crustaceans.

12. The greater flamingo is the largest flamingo species and can measure up to five feet tall, but only weighs a maximum of eight pounds. The lesser flamingo is the smallest and can reach three feet tall.

13. A adult flamingo's legs can be 30-50 inches long, which is longer than their entire body.

14. The backward bending "knee" of a flamingo's leg is actually the bird's ankle. The actual knee is very close to the body and is not visible through the bird's plumage.

15. Flamingos are gregarious birds that do not do well in very small flocks. While a typical flock is only several dozen birds, flocks of up to a million or more have been recorded.

16. A flock of flamingos is called a stand or a flamboyance.

17. Flamingos have a wild lifespan of 20-30 years, but in captivity have been recorded as living up to 50 years or longer.

18. The Andean flamingo is the most threatened of all flamingo species, and estimates show there to be only 30,000 of the birds left in the wild.

19. The most prominent threats to flamingos include predators, habitat loss and poaching for decorative feathers as well as humans hunting flamingos to gather eggs as food or to harvest their tongues as meat.

20. Don Featherstone of Massachusetts is the inventor of the pink plastic lawn flamingo, which has been gracing lawns since 1957.

See this month's "Limited Time Offer" for deep discounts on the Flamingo canvas print pictured above.

Spring Flowers

May 20th, 2013

Spring Flowers

Spring is well underway and much of North America has already seen summer temps in the 100's! We'll take the warm sunshine because it brings out Mother Nature's beautiful displays. View our gallery of flora available at Design Pics at: http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/designpics.html?tab=artworkgalleries&artworkgalleryid=175559

Animals For Your Walls

January 2nd, 2013

Animals For Your Walls

Dogs? Cats? Fish? Turtles? Tigers? Polar Bears? Design Pics has gathered some of our favorite animal photos together in one gallery. We have animals from Africa to Alaska.

In particular, we love the close up contrast and pattern of this zebra photo: http://designpics.artistwebsites.com/featured/zebras-close-up-axiom-photographic.html. This would be great in a room with an African or travel related theme. Or the black and white pattern would compliment any room that has a predominately monochromatic pallet.

For a pop of color and whimsy, this flamingo on a beach in the Dominican Republic can't help but make you smile: http://designpics.artistwebsites.com/featured/flamingo-walking-along-beach-ian-cumming.html

Love Dogs? Add man's best friend to your decor for an inviting feel: http://designpics.artistwebsites.com/featured/chocolate-labrador-retriever-portrait-david-duchemin.html

No matter your taste and choice in animals or wildlife, Design Pics has a wide variety to choose from and invite you to browse our animals gallery: http://designpics.artistwebsites.com/art/all/animals/all

Happy Holidays from Design Pics

December 20th, 2012

Happy Holidays from Design Pics

At this time of year we pause to consider our friends, family, and the blessings in our lives. May the true meaning of this Christmas Season bring warmth and happiness to you, your family and colleagues during the Holidays. As we count our blessings as a company, one of them is our relationship with you, and we wish you every success for the coming year, both personally and in your business!

- from all of us at Design Pics

 

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