Goldilocks and TF

Yesterday, we were talking about the geology of Interstate State Park, at Taylors Falls. So I did some reading about it and found this quote:

“Imagine a time of cold, when summers were not warm enough to melt all of the snow that fell the winter before. After years of this, the snow piled up deep enough to crush the snow at the bottom of the pile into ice, and then piled up more.”

So that was when TF was glaciated. Too cold for me. Thank heavens it’s warmed up a tad since then.

Before the glaciers though, things were pretty warm (Ibid):

“From river level to the highest rocks near Taylors Falls there are seven major layers visible, so we know that at least seven different lava flows formed the bedrock we see today.”

“The photo at the left shows some pillow lava formation in the basalt.  It is evidence that the lava flowed into a marine environment as it was formed.”

 

Ouch, I wouldn’t have liked that either. Climbing in asbestos-lined shoes would be hard, I think.

:And gravity is a little higher at TF which explains part of its attraction:

“This area is called the Midcontinent Gravity High because the higher density rock causes an increased gravitational attraction in this area.”

Between the glaciers and the lava, just like Goldilocks, I think the current temperature range at TF is “Just Right.”