Hi All. Have you ever wondered why the West is like it is? Why do we have so many earthquakes, volcanoes, etc.?

Did you know that British Columbia may have been where Baja is at present time?

The Baja BC hypothesis suggests that much of modern British Columbia was situated in the Baja region during late Mesozoic and was then transferred north along major right lateral strike slip faults to present positions. As these blocks moved northward between the previous arc (Sierra Nevada) and the westward subduction zone, the arc was built on the Baja BC blocks and the inboard Mesozoic arc was shut down.

Have you ever wondered how the Rockies were built so far inland? One hypothesis suggests that a shallowing of the angle of the Cordilleran subduction zone caused inboard migration of arc activity into the Rocky Mountain region. Are both the Baja BC and shallow subduction hypotheses workable at the same time and place? This question remains unanswered.

Have you ever wondered how the San Andreas was formed?

Check the link. See why we are the way we are, and in all probability will remain so. Just think. One day LA may be s suburb of SF. What a revolting thought that is. :-) Take Care…Don in creepy town.

• The Way It Is