GEO 1050 - National Parks: Geology Behind the Scenery

National parks are one of the United States' greatest treasures. But what makes these places so beautiful and unique? How did the amazing landscapes of the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Yosemite come to be? In this course we will address these questions from the perspective of earth science. Students will be introduced to fantastic geologic processes that make natural wonders like the collision of tectonic plates, the eruption of supervolcanoes, and the sculpting of mountains by glaciers. In addition to exploring national parks as an expression of the earth system, we will also consider them as a cultural phenomenon. We will address how natural wonders become national parks and how the social, political and economic history of parks varies around the globe in fascinating ways.