Bonnie Rannald's Photo-Explorations in focus with nature. : Desert Playa

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Sand Mountain and the Playa

Adventures in an Extraterrestrial Environment

A day trip to Sand Mountain, a large dune of windblown sand measuring 2 miles (3.22 km) long and 600 feet (180 m) high is a journey back in time to a place that on closer inspection, takes on an unworldly appearance. Sand Mountain, located east of Fallon, Nevada, off US Route 50, is a favorite recreation area for camping, off-roading and hiking.

However going back in time to the Pleistocene epoch, the Sand Mountain area was once covered by the purival Lake Lahontan. As the climate began to warm and dry, Lake Lahontan slowly started to evaporate, leaving behind sediment and exposed rocks that gradually weathered in to a mixture of dissolved minerals and salts. Therefore, the desert playa that is found near Sand Mountain was created

Desert playa is a salt flat devoid of vegetation.

The plants that do manage to grow are shrubs, low to the ground.

A hole in the playa is perhaps home to one of the Zebra-tailed lizards that are camouflaged to blend in with the surroundings.

Horizontal lines in the mountain or wave terraces are evidence of the ancient shoreline of Lake Lahontan. Over time, the windblown sand exposes a surface of gravel or what is known as desert pavement.

Massive volcanism is evidence of the violent past that formed many areas in the Great Basin Desert.

So you might be wondering why the fascination with a hot, dry, dusty area that is almost devoid of color. The answer lies in a sense of adventure, a challenge with the adaptation of nature and the feel of exploring in an extraterrestrial environment.

What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been. I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences.

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

"Reflecting Nature's Artistry"

Many of these images are available on my website:

http://www.bonnierannald.com/

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Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Walker Lake's East Side

A Glimpse Through Earth's Ancient History

A trek through the desert to the east side of Walker Lake takes one back through the ages to a glimpse at Earth's ancient times. The natural high desert lake of Walker Lake lies with in the Great Basin Desert, south of Reno Nevada and northeast of Yosemite, California.

Going back in history, earlier than 586 million yeas, the Great Basin Desert was formed during the Prepaleozoic Era due to plate tectonics that lifted the ancient seabed. Having no outlet, it became an inland sea. Moving forward in history, during the Pleistocene epoch (ice age), Lake Lahontan covered most of the western U.S. As the climate began to warm, the massive ice sheet receded northward, causing Lake Lahontan also to recede. A number of smaller isolated lakes were left behind in closed valleys, thus Walker Lake was born. Today, three major rivers still drain and feed these lakes: the Truckee, the Carson and Walker which presently flows to Walker Lake.

The west side of Walker Lake is established with a residential area, parks and recreation.

Across the lake, the east side still remains desert and primitive. Desert sage, natural grass and rabbit bush grow abundantly in the alkali desert soil. Shells from ancient sea creatures are uncovered from wind drifts and accent the sandy banks.

The mantle from a long extinct volcano stands out against the distant Gillis Mountain Range and is a reminder of Walker Lake's violent past.

Looking out across the desert playa toward the west side of Walker Lake and the Wassuk Mountain Range.

A fun day exploring the desert with the camera. At a glance, the desert appears barren and harsh, but remain still and watch closely and its many secrets will be told.

Photographs Make Great Gifts