HIKE ME
Written
Rocks IN THE
VISIT GEOLOGICAL LANDMARKS ALONG THE COAST STORY & PHOTOS BY AISLINN SARNACKI
WAVES CRASH against the ocean ledges, sweeping into deep crevasess in the rock. Nearby, visitors stand on flat shelves of pink granite and black basalt. They’re drawn to the rocky coastline, a study of sharp shapes and straight lines, weathering the tides. Right under their feet is a story, one that spans for millions of years. Geologists estimate that the pink granite on Schoodic Peninsula formed over 300 million years ago, and later volcanic activity pushed dark, molten rock through cracks in the bedrock, forming the dramatic patterns visitors see today. Throughout Maine, fascinating rock formations lead everyday people to wonder about the slow-ticking clock of geologic time. The rocks tell stories of volcanoes erupting and mile-high glaciers crawling across the landscape, of oceans expanding and retreating, and of continents moving. These stories are especially evident along Maine’s dramatic coastline, where waves wash ancient bedrock clean. To the untrained eye, it can be challenging to spot geological features, let alone understand them. To help, scientists with the Maine Geological Survey have created easy-to-read documents about different geological features throughout Maine, complete with photos. Here are three coastal locations that are highlighted in the documents. Each spot features nearby hiking trails and other opportunities for recreation, so you can get some exercise while learning about local geology. To find more interesting geological features to visit throughout Maine, visit maine.gov/dacf/mgs/explore and click the link for “field localities.”
