Travertine limestone is formed when hot underground water dissolves minerals, rises to the surface through cracks, and then evaporates or cools leaving the minerals behind. The hot springs we visited began forming 10,000 years ago and are actively growing. The longest is 850 feet long and 15 feet tall. We are including a lot of photos because we liked the colors, patterns, and textures.
We liked the contrasts presented by the mountains, hills, trees, brush and travertine.Detail of the mountainsOn the left is the end of a ridge of travertine and on the right is a side view of a ridge of travertine.Dave videoed the length of a ridge.Dave’s video of the travertine ridgeColors ranged from nearly white to dark red.This ridge looked as if a beginning plasterer practiced on it.Here are several pools–we saw at least 20. People were using the larger pools for soaking.Jane and Dave in front of their favorite pool.We measured the temperature of the water flowing down the crevice at 140 degrees and in the pool at 107 degrees.Water was flowing over both the green and the white scalloped rock.Flowing water is sparkling in the sun.Dripping waterWater bubbling from undergroundWe were intrigued by the patterns made by the layers of travertine.This is the end of a travertine ridge.The travertine formed in a variety of textures. The edges in the sample above are very sharp.In another location rock formed both layers and geode-like edges.The colors of the layers in this rock presented great contrast. This looks to us like a cross-section revealing deposits made over many years.We thought this section looked like tree bark.This section made us think of breakfast bacon.Dave gives perspective to the layers of color.The surface weathered into this interesting pattern.Maybe a desert spiny lizard. Definitely a lizard in the desert.Bridgeport, California with travertine in the foreground
August 4, 2022 Vermont’s oldest geocache was closer to our campground near Albany, New York than our campground near Montpelier, Vermont so we treated it separately from other Vermont geocaches. Besides, it was harder to Read more…
2 Comments
Alice Mcgregor · October 25, 2021 at 12:59 am
There’s a wonderful bizarre beauty in these patterns! The scalloped water is gorgeous and the last photos reek of 70s interior design!
Susan · October 25, 2021 at 11:47 am
Love all the layering and color in the rocks