U.S.+Travel

 Badlands, South Dakota  : The buttes in the Badlands formed as each of those visible layers of sedimentary rock were deposited, and the missing parts were eroded away by wind and water. Each year, they erode about one more inch--geologists estimate that in 500,000 years they may be completely eroded away. Each layer (different colors) is from different time periods, and holds fossils from organisms that lived in that time.

 Just outside Reno, NV on the way to the tourist town of Virginia City. A bit after taking this picture we drove past a small herd of wild horses--which look just like domesticated horses, but are closer to the size of a pony.

 The sea lions of San Francisco's Pier 39--I took this photo in 2007. They were loud (they make kind of hoarse barking noise) and for some reason loved hanging out here. In 2009, they mysteriously disappeared  from the area--confusing tourists and scientists alike.