Why is Mecca a popular destination for geologists from around the world?
A more defined questiion:"Why do you think that the Pacific NW is known as ‘Mecca’, or popular destination, for geologists from around the world? "
Not all of the Pacific Northwest is known as Mecca. Actually it is Seattle that is the Mecca of the Pacific NW. " … that Seattle is the kosher Mecca of the Pacific Northwest."
http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1P3-845602271.html
Keep in mind too, that the term ‘mecca’ means any place that many people visit or hope to visit - a place to which many people are attracted
So, why do geologists travel to that area?
The pacific northwest is highly geologically active, with both active volcanoes and geologic faults. There are 7 active volcanoes (Mount Garibaldi, Mount Baker, Mount Rainier, Mount Saint Helens, Mount Hood, Mount Jefferson, and Mount Shasta). The three major tectonic plates off the Pacific Northwest coast are gradually shifting (North American Plate, Pacific Plate and Juan de Fuca Plate). Here is an page with an excellent diagram.
http://studentatlasoforegon.pdx.edu/PDFs/Map18.pdf
March 24th, 2010 at 4:33 pm
Not all of the Pacific Northwest is known as Mecca. Actually it is Seattle that is the Mecca of the Pacific NW. " … that Seattle is the kosher Mecca of the Pacific Northwest."
http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1P3-845602271.html
Keep in mind too, that the term ‘mecca’ means any place that many people visit or hope to visit - a place to which many people are attracted
So, why do geologists travel to that area?
The pacific northwest is highly geologically active, with both active volcanoes and geologic faults. There are 7 active volcanoes (Mount Garibaldi, Mount Baker, Mount Rainier, Mount Saint Helens, Mount Hood, Mount Jefferson, and Mount Shasta). The three major tectonic plates off the Pacific Northwest coast are gradually shifting (North American Plate, Pacific Plate and Juan de Fuca Plate). Here is an page with an excellent diagram.
http://studentatlasoforegon.pdx.edu/PDFs/Map18.pdf
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