Posted on 06/07/2007 11:47:31 PM PDT by bruinbirdman
One of the world's hottest spots—literally—has disappeared in the blink of an eye.
Russia's famous Valley of the Geysers was buried on June 3 after an entire mountainside collapsed, according to the conservation nonprofit World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The landslide filled the Geyser River, which once ran freely through the unique vale (top), with millions of gallons of rock, gravel, snow, and ice (bottom).
The valley, located in Kronotsky Nature Preserve in the Kamchatka Peninsula, is one of the few places in the world where geysers occur naturally, along with Yellowstone National Park in the U.S. and sites in Iceland, Chile, and New Zealand. In Kamchatka more than 20 large jets and 200 smaller thermal springs punch through Earth's crust in a 2.7-square-mile (7-square-kilometer) area.
"We've lost one of the great natural wonders of the world," Laura Williams, director of WWF Russia's Kamchatka office, said in a statement.
The landslide was likely caused by an earthquake, as Kamchatka is located on the tectonically unstable "Ring of Fire" circling the Pacific Ocean, said Margaret Williams of WWF's Alaska office. Much of the peninsula, including the Valley of the Geysers, has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of the presence of almost a hundred volcanoes.
Unless the new river blockage is breached, the area will probably turn into a large heated lake. That may put spawning areas for salmon and other animals at risk, along with predators such as bears and sea eagles that rely on the fish for food, according to WWF.
Humans in the valley were luckier, however. A group of 19 tourists exploring the geysers escaped with their lives—but just barely, as the onslaught of debris came to a stop less than three feet (a meter) from their helicopter and the buildings they were occupying.
Thanks for posting this article. The World Wildlife Federation and no mention of global warming. They must be slipping.
Well, that does it - one can no longer attack the Urkutsk from Kamchatka in RISK@!
Evolutionists are always telling us events like this put pressure on species to evolve. Maybe the salmon will start walking from lake to lake, we will get furless bears, etc.
Never heard of Muddy Mudskipper? Naked Mole Rats?
“They’re doin’ that stuff, they’re doin’ it! Monkey boys, and dog men. They’re doin’ it!” - DEVO
I’m talking about having the privilege to watch it before our eyes. Biologists would virtually kill for the chance.
Well, it takes time, which is understandable as per the hypothesis. What about naked mole rats? Don’t you think that they lost their hair over time? Would you insist that they were originally created in their present form? If so, I have further questions!
What little we can see in the fossils often shows sizable jumps in the prevailing fauna taking place in a tearing hurry.
I’m not talking about fossils. I’m talking about naked mole rats. Do you think they lost their hair over time? Or were they originally created in their present form?
“Under which king, Bezonian? Speak or die!”
We’d have to watch it happening to tell for sure.
Supposing that, when Pistol uttered the well-known words -
“Under which king, Bezonian? Speak or die!”
Justice Shallow had felt certain that it was either William or Richard, but had not been able to settle which; so that he could not possibly say either name before the other, can it be doubted that, rather than die, he would have gasped out “Rilchiam!”
PREFACE TO THE HUNTING OF THE SNARK - LEWIS CARROLL
If they can’t blame it on Bush, you know the’re going to blame it on global warming.
I say leave it alone and in 10 years you will find it to be just as lush and pristine as it was before. Altered but very similar to it’s previous condition.
After all it was only 1 earthquake. How many earthquakes has this valley seen?
Probably zillions. Some (maybe most?) a heck of a lot stronger than this one.
Our planet does this on a routine basis. Don’t stress about it.
Heated lakes - how common are those around the world?
You see them in Western Canada, but I’m not sure if I’ve heard of any others. Quite often they’re hidden in caves, so they’re actually underground lakes.
Where at? If there are any in YT I would love to put them on my list of places to go and see.
Putin could use the resulting hot lake to brew lots and lots of his favorite poison tea.
Not quite the Yukon, but there are some in BC: http://www.bchotsprings.com/ came up first in a quick Google search. I think that is more small ponds and such but next time you’re in a book store check out the Lonely Planet guide to Canada and look in the section on the Rockies. If it’s anywhere it will be in that book.
“...we will get furless bears, etc.”
Bare bears?
The mind reels at the thought.
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