Reading the landscape
An oxbow lake preserves a river bend after the channel moves
Read the shape of an oxbow lake in a river landscape, distinguish an old bend from the active channel, and use that understanding carefully when planning a walk.
HIKING · CAMPING · OUTDOOR LIFE
walking observations
Reading the landscape
A drumlin shows how ice can shape a hill without leaving a mountain
Spot the rounded shape of a drumlin, read its glacial context, and use a landscape map without assuming every smooth hill has the same origin.
Reading the landscape
An esker traces an old meltwater route through today’s landscape
An esker is a ridge left by sediment deposited in glacial meltwater channels. Learn how to read the landform on a walk without guessing its origin from shape alone.
Reading the landscape
A disappearing stream is one clue to a karst landscape
A stream can disappear into karst and still be part of an active water system. Read the landscape carefully and never assume a clear resurgence is safe drinking water.
Reading the landscape
A U-shaped valley tells a different landscape story from a river gorge
A broad U-shaped valley can preserve evidence of glacial erosion. Learn what to observe from a trail and how to check the local geological story.