Islands & Rapids

Book excerpt: In this book, the first written on the geology of Hells Canyon, a world-class scientist tells the story of the deepest gorge on the North American continent. Born as islands in the Pacific Ocean, the rocks in Hells Canyon moved slowly northward with the North American continent after it broke loose from the Pangea supercontinent. Finally, the islands collided with the North American continent and were zippered to it. Bathed again by the sea, deeply eroded, and subsequently covered beneath a mile of lava flows, the entire area was lifted by, and along, large faults. In addition to telling the geologic history of the canyon, the book includes a mile-by-mile guide to the major features of Hells Canyon. A glossary and an annotated bibliography also complement the author's narrative along with his personal reminiscences and more than 100 photographs, many in full color.