> Jeez. It takes longer to see it than it took for it to form. > During the "big flood" that is. I don't know that anyone has suggested that the Grand Canyon formed *quite* that quickly. However, for a geologic formation of even = greater size that is now believed to have formed literally in days (and that = would have been a most awesome site* to see) Gargoyle on eg Montana = scablands or look at eg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missoula_Floods Quoting: The peak flow of the largest floods is estimated to be = 40 to 60 cubic kilometers per hour (9.5 to 15 cubic miles per hour).[1][2] The maximum flow speed approached 36 meters/second (80 miles per hour).[3] Up to 1.9=D71019 joules of potential energy were released by each flood, the equivalent of 4500 megatons of TNT.[4] The cumulative effect of the floods was to excavate 210 km=B3 (50 mi=B3) of loess, sediment and basalt from the channeled scablands of eastern Washington and to transport it downstream.[1] 4500 megatons! And that was only a little one :-) Russell * an awesome sight as well. = -- = http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist