by geologic journey
Spotting a seemingly insignificant looking rock like this one now sends me wondering about its history, its journey through millions of years. Thanks to the powerful series Geologic Journey, my view of our world, especially of Canada and part of North America, has been profoundly enlarged.
Some weeks ago, happening to turn on CBC TV, we caught the last episode The Atlantic Coast, one part of which documents:
The rocks in the glowing cliffs in Nova Scotia once nestled beside Africa, as part of the super-continent Pangea. Millions of years ago, crocodiles and dinosaurs wandered here and today paleontologists come to unearth their remains.
The beaches and cliffs here are an unlikely home to the world’s largest collection of fossils from the Triassic/Jurassic period. They are virtually brimming with dinosaur skulls, teeth and jaws.
We were so amazed and awed by it that we wanted to see the rest of the series so I promptly ordered the DVD set. This five-part documentary series, shot in high-definition, delves into the geological history that has shaped the mythic Canadian landscape, offering a wide and compelling range of scientific, amateur enthusiast and narrative perspectives that enlighten the ways in which our land is shaped. It’s extremely well done, very dramatic with all the powerful visual and scientific techniques available today, not at all boring and dry. The website offers quite a bit of information and preview clips of each episode, so if this subject interests, do have a browse. Highly recommended!
April 28, 2008 in Canada and BC, Films, History by Marja-Leena
Geology has always been a particular fascination of mine, as well. If you’re up for some reading, I highly recommend John McPhee’s entertaining, multi-volume look at the geology of the continent, gathered in one volume as Annals of the Former World.
I wish we could get this here! Sounds fascinating!
Dave, that book sounds interesting, thanks. I’ll check the library. I thought of you when watching the episode on the Appalachians – I didn’t know it’s an earthquake zone, for example!
Joan, the DVD set is available for purchase from CBC and Amazon. We don’t buy these often but this is worth it!
Very interesting, Marja-Leena. I think we’re so focused on human existence, even our little short-term day-to-day things, that learning about the millions of years rocks have been around is sort of mind-blowing!
On a very much smaller scale, I enjoyed a lovely little book called Beach Stones last summer when visiting a friend on the Connecticut shore. Little coffee table book, but great photos and succinct, interesting bits on the types and shapes of stones found on beaches.
Leslee, what is mind-blowing too, is how the continents, oceans and mountains have been formed and dramatically changed – and are still changing. Our concept of time as humans, both individually and in terms of how long we’ve been on this earth, is miniscule in comparison. Those fossils in the rocks in Nova Scotia revealed that they were in Africa, for example, and there’s so much more fascinating information. It puts another perspective on climate change.
I would enjoy such a book as well, but now I’d see those stones with different eyes, wondering where each came from.