Activity 5: Geodiversity

Geodiversity refers to the full variety of natural geologic (rocks, minerals, sediments, fossils, landforms, and physical processes) and soil resources and processes that occur in the Park or specific region.

A product of the Geologic Resources Inventory, the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides information in support of education, Geoconservation, and combined management of living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) parts of the ecosystem.

Maintaining a wide diversity of non-living or abiotic habitats and systems is important to life on Earth! Geodiversity and its environmental benefits has also recently been recognized as an important part of conservation.

 

In-depth geologic information is contained in the baseline inventory products of the Geologic Resources Inventory. Click image above to view the full-report.

NPS Photo

Geodiversity in our Region

The Geologic Resource Inventory report (pictured right) is a rich document filled with important facts about the geodiversity in the region. This report includes: geologic history, setting, features, processes, and a summary of the regional overall geologic story.

Read this short excerpt from the report:

"Along the canal’s length are numerous locks, aqueducts, lock houses, channels, and tow paths. These historical features do more than preserve examples of early civil engineering; they present the rock formations and geologic structures of the Potomac River corridor in miniature.

The canal is unique in that it is the only unit within the National Park system that crosses 3 physiographic provinces along a major river. Along its entire length the canal provides an opportunity to examine the geologic history of the central Appalachian region and the canals contribution to development of the area (Southworth et al., 2001)."

 

Pictures of Parks within the same physiographic province as the C&O Canal National Historical Park. (From left to right) a) Exposed Fall line at Prince William Forest Park b) Chimney Rock in Catoctin Mountain National Park c) Fractures in a metamorphic rock formation at Mather Gorge

NPS Photos

 

Physiographic Provinces Activity

C&O Canal National Historical Park cuts across the Piedmont, Blue Ridge, and Valley and Ridge Physiographic Provinces and shares its geologic history and some characteristic geologic formations with these regions that extends well beyond park boundaries.

1. Using the links below, research the various Physiographic Provinces:
   (a) Piedmont
   (b) Blue Ridge
   (c) Valley and Ridge
2. On each of the pages, search for keywords "geologic history" and "characteristic geologic formations."
3. Use your Junior Geoscientist Activity Log to compare, contrast, and record the similarities and differences among the three regions nearby the C&O Canal.
4. After comparing and contrasting the Physiographic Provinces, continue to the next activity!

 

Geoscientists-in-the-Parks participant, Susie Hertfelder, photographing an in situ vertebra fossil at Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Mounument, NV.

NPS Photo

Explore More Provinces!

The contiguous United States (the 'Lower 48') are divided into physiographic provinces according to their geomorphology. Geomorphology refers to the physical features and processes of landforms, and their relation to geologic structures.

Some areas have been scraped flat by glaciers, others are dominated by towering mountains, and still others are subject to changing sea levels and coastal processes. Every province has its own beauty and geologic heritage preserved by the National Park Service.

See the diverse and rich bounty of our country's landscape awaiting your exploration! Using the interactive map on the NPS Physiographic Provinces website, click other regions around the country to discover new geologic wonders!

 

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