Travel stories with mild geo-flavor
Last autumn, we explored the vibrant foliage of Hokkaido’s Shikotsu-Toya National Park (支笏洞爺国立公園), visiting Lake Toya, Noboribetsu Hell Valley, and Lake Shikotsu—all iconic natural landmarks. A must-see for nature enthusiasts! Geology overview of Hokkaido Hokkaido has a complex geological structure, with numerous faults, volcanoes, and geothermal features across the island. It sits on the Okhotsk … Read more
During our March 2025 trip to Kaua‘i, Hawaii, one unforgettable day stood out: we spent seven hours soaking in the breathtaking vistas of the Nā Pali sea cliffs, the volcanic Lehua tuff cone, and the remote shores of Ni‘ihau—often called the “Forbidden Island”. Over the past several million years, magma from the Hawaiian mantle plume … Read more
In the winter of 2023, we traveled to the northernmost mountain range of the North American continent—the Brooks Range. The heart of this range lies within Gates of the Arctic National Park in Alaska. 1. Fairbanks to Bettles On the day of departure, the temperature was still below freezing, but the sky was perfectly clear. … Read more
I’ve often pondered why so many destinations that captivate my imagination lie perpetually out of reach. No matter where I’ve lived, these places remain scattered to opposite ends of the Earth. Are these far-off vistas truly more breathtaking than the landscapes nearby, or does their appeal stem solely from the novelty of their remoteness? 1. … Read more
What a year 2024 was, and here comes 2025. This is the first new year since I started this little website. Wishing everyone all the best in the 2025! #KeepTraveling Happy New Year! January 1, 2025
We visited the Grand Canyon in Arizona this spring and hiked all the way to the bottom! Starting with the Kaibab Formation at the top, which formed around 270 million years ago during the Permian period, and moving down to the Vishnu Schist at the canyon floor, which formed 1.7 billion years ago during the … Read more
The prime season for iceberg viewing in Newfoundland is in May and June. We joined in the excitement this year (2024). The sea ice in Baffin Bay on the west coast of Greenland melts in spring, and the resulting icebergs move southward with the Labrador Current, along the so-called “Iceberg Alley”. They cross the entire … Read more
During my trip to the Hexi Corridor in September 2024, I visited the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang. I was quite amazed by the caves that I would like to insert this post of cultural topics here, not quite related to nature or geology like most of the other posts on my website. Dunhuang is located … Read more
When we were going back to Phoenix from the Grand Canyon, we turned east in Flagstaff and took a 45 minutes detour to visit the Barringer Meteor Crater (a.k.a. Meteor Crater Natural Landmark). This is the most well-preserved meteor crater in the world and the first confirmed impact crater on Earth caused by an extraterrestrial collision. The meteorite … Read more
My earlier post Micronesia part 1: secluded stones mainly discussed high island landscapes related to volcanic rocks and megalithic cultural sites. This upcoming part 2 will focus on low island features derived from coral reefs. Not having read part 1 won’t affect understanding this post. Calcareous skeletons of corals form limestone, which falls into the … Read more
Shield volcanoes and stratovolcanoes are two major types of volcanoes. Other smaller-scale volcanic features also include cinder cones, volcanic domes, calderas etc. To put it simply, low-viscosity magma flows gently outward instead of erupts violently, resulting in shield volcanoes with gentle slopes. In contrast, stratovolcanoes form from viscous magma that often erupts violently and couldn’t … Read more
When flying over areas with clear weather, if I can secure a window seat for free or at a reasonable cost, I usually opt for it to enjoy the view. This post sums up some of my personal experiences and tips. I’ll use solo adult economy passengers as an example here to keep things simple. … Read more
California. The oldest, tallest, and largest (by volume) known living trees on Earth are all around the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California. Each of them is worth a separate visit. The oldest trees – bristlecone pines An ongoing research project is investigating a cypress tree in Alerce Costero National Park in Chile that might be … Read more
Yes! Among the three major types of rocks (igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic), metamorphic rocks might not be quite straightforward to identify – unless there are extremely distinct foliated textures. Recently I encountered some impressive metamorphic rocks in three locations in North America: Kings Canyon in California, Black Canyon of the Gunnison in Colorado, and Tablelands … Read more
I took a trip to Micronesia – a group of isolated “small islands” – in early 2024, where the diverse volcanic landscapes on their high islands not only shape magnificent natural scenery but also foster an impressive local culture. There are three subregions- both geographical and cultural- in Oceania: Melanesia, Polynesia, and Micronesia. Translated from … Read more
I visited southern coast of Spain, Gibraltar, and the coast on the Atlantic side of central Portugal (also known as the “Silver Coast”) in the spring of 2024. The scenery is beautiful and its sedimentary rock structure is particularly special. Strait of Gibraltar The Strait of Gibraltar separates Europe and Africa, with its narrowest point … Read more