Doherty Slide facts for kids
The Doherty Slide is a large, noticeable ridge in southeastern Oregon, United States. It was formed by ancient volcanoes. This ridge is in a quiet part of Lake County, very close to the Nevada border.
The Doherty Slide sits at the eastern edge of the Guano Valley. It is about 20 miles (32 km) east of the small town of Adel.
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What is the Doherty Slide?
The Doherty Slide is a long, high landform. It looks like a big wall of rock. People call it a "slide" because of all the loose rocks and dirt at its base. This material has fallen down from the ridge over many years.
How the Doherty Slide Formed
The Doherty Slide was created by lava flows. Long ago, hot, melted rock (lava) came out of the ground. This lava cooled and hardened, forming layers of rock. Over a very long time, wind, rain, and ice slowly wore away parts of these rock layers. This process, called erosion, shaped the land into the ridge we see today.
Rising from the Valley
On its western side, the Doherty Slide rises about 1,000 feet (300 meters) from the flat floor of the Guano Valley. This makes it look very tall and impressive from that direction.
Connecting to a Plateau
The eastern side of the Doherty Slide is different. It connects to a high, flat area called a plateau. This plateau stretches out eastward across a large part of southeastern Oregon.
Getting There
A road called Oregon Route 140 goes right up the side of the Doherty Slide. This road offers great views of the valley and the surrounding landscape.