Right Fork Canyon facts for kids
Right Fork Canyon is a beautiful and important part of the Ruby Mountains in Elko County, Nevada. It's like a big side branch of a larger area called Lamoille Canyon. This canyon is about 5 miles (8 kilometers) long.
Long, long ago, during past ice ages, huge sheets of ice called glaciers moved through this area. These glaciers were like giant carving tools. They shaped the canyon into the amazing form we see today.
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What Makes Right Fork Canyon Special?
Right Fork Canyon starts high up at the top of Mount Fitzgerald. This mountain is very tall, reaching 11,215 feet (3,418 meters) into the sky. From there, the canyon quickly drops down to a flatter, upper part.
How Glaciers Shaped the Canyon
The upper part of Right Fork Canyon is where you can see the clearest signs of the glaciers. The canyon has a special "U" shape when you look at it from the side. This "U" shape is a classic sign that a glacier once filled the valley.
Many parts of the bare rock, called granite, still show dark marks. They also have long scratches on them. These scratches are called glacial striations. They were made when the heavy glaciers dragged rocks and debris across the canyon floor. It's like the glaciers left their fingerprints behind!
Journey Through the Canyon
As you travel further down Right Fork Canyon, it makes a big drop and a sharp turn. This leads into the lower part of the canyon. Here, you can spot a large crack in the granite wall. This crack is a geologic fault, which is where the Earth's crust has moved.
The stream flowing through the canyon also becomes very exciting here. It tumbles down a steep waterfall, creating a beautiful cascade. Further down, there's another waterfall about 30 feet (10 meters) tall!
The canyon eventually reaches an elevation of 7,100 feet (2,165 meters). Finally, it passes by a place called Camp Lamoille. After that, Right Fork Canyon joins up with the main part of Lamoille Canyon.
Images for kids
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Mount Fitzgerald and the upper part of Right Fork Canyon
