Rock Decay: El Arco de Cabo San Lucas

Cabo San Lucas is well known for its rock formations; in specific El Arco de Cabo San Lucas, a distinctive rock formation found at the very tip of the city known as Lands End (land running down east of downtown Cabo San Lucas and the marina). El Arco de Cabo San Lucas is a signature icon of Cabo and often found on postcards. These arches were once used as a hiding place by pirates,going after merchant ships heading toward the West Coast. This landmark is now draws in a different crowd. Lands End is also where the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean meet, as well as a popular spot for tourists.The series of rugged rocks in the Pacific, which reaches Alaska's Aleutian Islands, is known by the locals as the Finisterra. The base of the rock formations are well known for the rich marine life, including coral formations,and tropical fish.

 El Arco de Cabo San Lucas, or Lands End, marks the spot where the Pacific Ocean meets the Sea of Cortez at the southern tip of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Photo by Stan Shebs.

 

 These arches or icons, made by granite have been carved by degradation.  Weathering is the breaking down of rock in place, the decay of rock. Weathering is the beginning of change to the Earths surface. Rock decay happens in two main ways: Physical and chemical decay. Physical decay is the disintegration of rocks and minerals by a physical or mechanical process. While Chemical Decay is the chemical alteration or decomposition of rocks or minerals. El Arco, is prone to the physical decay of salt decay due to ocean surrounding and joints which are regularly spaced fractures or cracks in rocks formed from cooling or expanding, faulting/folding/ and tectonics; as well as the chemical decay of hydration(addition/removal of H₂O to a mineral), due to the arcs surroundings,years of wind and dissolution(mineral is completely dissolved by the water), water erosion(Ocean current).

 

Shows currents during Hurricane Odile. Rock Decay.

This image above contains correct images except for picture #3. 

Rock decay could happen from breaking into little pieces, decay from the inside, water, or salt. As this picture shows how arches may be made, El Arco de Cabo San Lucas may have been created in a similar way.

El Arco de Cabo San Lucas, Mexico (A natural arch made of granite rock)

 Image via wikimedia

It is illegal to climb the Arch, but viewing the natural wonder is a beautiful sight and highlight of a trip to Cabo San Lucas. These granite structures are amazing in height and beauty.




 

 Sources Used:

 http://www.destination360.com/north-america/mexico/cabo-san-lucas/el-arco 

 http://www.cabosanlucas.net/what_to_do/the-arch-lands-end.php

 http://www.cabo.com/cabo-san-lucas/

Professor Allen Lecture

 

San Andreas Fault Impact

Cabo San Lucas can be located farther South of California. As we know many map makers were not too clear on how the world looked like, because they didn’t posses all the fancy new things we have now a days. Back in the early 1500’s Baja was depicted as an island. This was later dis-proven by Franciso de Ulloa who was sent by Hernan Cortes to explore the area. Ullola sailed along the Baja California Side, and rounded the tip of Baja California which is now known as Cabo San Lucas. This Baja peninsular, which is separated into two Mexican states (Baja California North, and Baja California South) stretches from near the U.S border to Cabo San Lucas (approx. 747 miles).

  Cabo San Lucas is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean as well as the Gulf of California, which may also be known as the Sea of Coretz. Archaeologists have thought that peninsula which holds Cabo San Lucas had been separated from the mainland of Mexico by means of the San Andreas Fault.  This motion of movement caused the Baja Peninsula to start drifting away from the mainland of Mexico nearly five million years ago. The San Andreas Fault is where the North American plate and the Pacific Plate touch. The San Andreas Fault slices California in two down to the Mexican border. 

  The San Andreas Fault is a transform fault. A transform type of interaction means a side-by-side motion of movement. 

 

This does not mean that there is a huge amount of movement within the fault area, but rather a small movement. Because of this transform boundary many different rocks may be seen. Since the San Andreas Fault is near 28 million years old, rock types from great distances have been discovered where rocks from different locations and origins. Such as the Salinian block of granite (central and northern California originated in Southern California) and some may say northern Mexico.




Sources Used:
 http://geology.about.com/od/geology_ca/ig/safsouth/safsouthredisland.htm
http://geology.com/articles/san-andreas-fault.shtml
http://www.allaboutbaja.com/seaofcortez.html
http://www.americanjourneys.org/aj-113/summary/

http://www.cabosanlucas.net/fast_facts/geographical_summary.php 
 http://www.worldatlas.com/aatlas/infopage/baja.htm
Professor Allen Lecture 

Introduction

Hi there! My name is Ariana and I am a Elementary Education Major and I am choosing to look further into the geography of Cabo San Lucas. I decided to look into Cabo San Lucas because my moms side of the family is from Mexico and during vacation we like to chose a different spot to vacation at. This past summer we chose Cabo San Lucas, as a quick get away and I was amazed at how beautiful the landscape was. I thought it would be fun to investigate further and have some fun with geography.

I know that Cabo is a huge vacation spot, so it draws in a lot of tourists. A big draw towards Cabo are the beach's, ocean (diving, snorkeling, etc...) and the stunning rock formations!