Marathon Uplift facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Marathon Uplift |
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Exposed ridges of the Ouachita orogeny trend northeast near Marathon, Texas.
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| Geography | |
 Location in Texas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| District | Brewster County |
| Range coordinates | 30°12′27″N 103°14′36″W / 30.20750°N 103.24333°W |
| Geology | |
| Mountain type | Uplift |
The Marathon Uplift is a large, dome-shaped area of land in southwest Texas. It's about 78 miles (126 kilometers) wide. Think of it like a giant bubble in the Earth's crust that pushed the land upwards. Over a very long time, softer rocks on top wore away, creating a basin with interesting ridges.
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What is the Marathon Uplift?
The Marathon Uplift is a special geological feature. It's called an "uplift" because a huge area of land was pushed up by forces deep inside the Earth. This happened during the Paleogene Period, which was a very long time ago, roughly 66 to 23 million years ago.
The top layers of rock, from the Cretaceous Period and later, have been worn away by wind and water. This process, called erosion, exposed older, harder rocks underneath. These older rocks form the unique landscape of the Marathon Basin.
How it Formed: The Ouachita Orogeny
The most interesting parts of the Marathon Uplift are the long ridges that run from the northeast to the southwest. These ridges are made of very old rocks from the Paleozoic Era, even older than the Permian Period. They were shaped by a massive event called the Ouachita orogeny.
What is an Orogeny?
An orogeny is a fancy word for a mountain-building event. It happens when two of Earth's large tectonic plates crash into each other. This collision causes the land to fold, fault, and uplift, creating mountain ranges. The Ouachita orogeny was a huge event that also formed the Ouachita Mountains in Arkansas and Oklahoma.
Connecting the Uplifts: Marathon and Llano
Scientists believe that the ancient forces that created the Marathon Uplift are connected to those that formed the Llano Uplift in central Texas. Both of these uplifts likely formed around the same time as the Ouachita orogeny. This shows how powerful and widespread these geological events can be, affecting large parts of a continent.
Where is the Marathon Uplift?
The Marathon Uplift is located in Brewster County, in the southwestern part of Texas. It's a remote and beautiful area, known for its unique geology and rugged landscapes. Many geologists and nature lovers visit the area to see these ancient rock formations.
