Corfu Slide

The Corfu Slide as seen from above on the crest of the Saddle Mountains looking easterly.
The Corfu Slide as seen from above on the crest of the Saddle Mountains looking north along the western edge.

The Corfu Slide is a geological feature located on the north slope of the Saddle Mountains above Crab Creek near the Columbia River in eastern Washington. It consists of 24 separate slides that cover approximately 18-20 square kilometers (7 to 8 miles²)[1] and contains a volume of material of about 1 cubic kilometer.

Geologic History

Geologic evidence supports the view that the slide occurred 13,000 to 15,000 years ago as the result of undercutting which occurred during the Missoula Floods associated with the retreat of glaciers during the last ice age. Water flowing through the Channeled Scablands split into two streams just upstream of the Corfu Slide, with part flowing to the east to pass over the low end of the Saddle Mountains and part flowing westward to pass through Sentinel Gap in the Saddle Mountains. The force of the water diverted to the west impinged on the base of the Corfu Slide area, causing erosion. At least some of the slide occurred before the final Missoula Floods as the older landslide debris has been eroded and smoothed by water flow.[2][3]

Location

The best viewpoint for the landslide is from its top on the crest of the Saddle Mountains. However it is visible from a number of points, including a road which traverses the lower portions of the slide.[3]

Location Coordinates
Easterly portion of Saddle Mountains where Lower Crab Creek meets the mountains at the Corfu Slide. The slide runs toward the west from this point. 46°49′00″N 119°22′30″W / 46.81667°N 119.37500°W / 46.81667; -119.37500
Western boundary of Corfu Slide. 46°48′00″N 119°26′40″W / 46.80000°N 119.44444°W / 46.80000; -119.44444

References and comments

  1. ^ Thirteen (13) square kilometers per the Lewis reference. The most recent reference is quoted in the text here.
  2. ^ Lewis, S. W.; Baker, V. R. (1983). The Corfu landslide: Analog to giant landslides on Mars. NASA. Washington Report of Planetary Geology Program, p 230 (SEE N84-23431 13-91).
  3. ^ a b Bjornstad, Bruce (2006). On the Trail of the Ice Age Floods: A Geological Guide to the Mid-Columbia Basin. Keokee Books; Sand Point, Idaho. ISBN 978-1-879628-27-4.
Stub icon

This article about a specific stratigraphic formation in Washington is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information.

Content Disclaimer

Informasi ini disarikan dari Wikipedia dan disajikan kembali untuk tujuan edukasi. Konten tersedia di bawah lisensi CC BY-SA 3.0. Kami tidak bertanggung jawab atas ketidakakuratan data yang bersumber dari kontribusi publik tersebut.

  1. The information displayed on this website is sourced in part or in whole from Wikipedia and has been adapted for the purpose of restating it. We strive to provide accurate and relevant information, however:
  2. There is no guarantee of absolute accuracy. Wikipedia is an open, collaborative project that can be edited by anyone, so information is subject to change.
  3. It is not intended to constitute professional advice. The content displayed is for informational and educational purposes only. For important decisions (e.g., medical, legal, or financial), please consult a professional.
  4. Content copyright. Wikipedia is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License (CC BY-SA). This means that content may be reused with appropriate attribution and shared under a similar license.
  5. Responsible use. Any risk arising from the use of information from this website is entirely the responsibility of the user.