Wednesday, September 2, 2009

September 1, 2009

Agate Fossil Beds and Scotts Bluff

Agate Fossil Beds National Monument is a remote spot in northwest Nebraska.  The interesting thing about this spot is that not only were entire fossil skeletons found virtually intact but the area was pretty much a bone yard as though entire herds had perished in the same area at the same time.  Fossils from here are on display all over the world.

South to the city of Scotts Bluff where we parked in a nice city park campground.  Once situated, we toured to Scotts Bluff National Monument.  This is a huge sandstone formation that was a landmark for Native Americans and for pioneers traveling the Oregon Trail.

Scotts Bluff as pioneers saw it.

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Oregon Trail.  Cut in foreground is result of hundreds of wagons passing over the same place followed by erosion.

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Cut in lower picture is spot referred to in upper picture.

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View of Oregon trail from atop Scotts Bluff.  Trail passed just above where buildings are now.

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This is a survey marker that was placed in 1933.  At that time the top of the marker was flush with the ground.  Picture shows how much erosion has occurred since then.

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