1. The Plank Road of Imperial Valley - http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/elcentro ... ankrd.html . From the BLM website:
2. Amboy Crater National Landmark - http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/needles/amboy.html . From the BLM website:This wooden road once spanned the Imperial Sand Dunes, providing a means of commerce and transportation to the southern Imperial Valley. Its remnants are a testament to the American ingenuity that produced it. The plank road was the innovative, if somewhat unusual, solution to the needs of early automobiles crossing the sand dunes.
Before the construction of the plank road cars were forced to go around the dunes, either south through Mexico, or the more popular northern route, through Brawley. The Brawley route presented its own challenges, going directly through Mammoth Wash, which was known for its flash floods that could sweep cars away in a matter of minutes. The Brawley route also took travelers far to the north in the Valley, taking business away from southern Imperial Valley towns and routing travelers towards Los Angeles, much to the annoyance of the rival southern city of San Diego. With the danger of loss of car and life, as well as the financial loss to the Imperial Valley and San Diego, a new route had to be established.
3. Cow Cove Petroglyph sites - A very good source of information, including directions, pictures, and a description of the difficulty level for the 3 mile, round trip hike, is the Backroads West website at: http://www.backroadswest.com/MonthTrips/CowCove.htm .Designated a National Natural Landmark in 1973, Amboy Crater was recognized for its visual and geological significance. Although Amboy Crater is not unique, it is an excellent example of a very symmetrical volcanic cinder cone.
The inside of the 250' high crater contains two lava dams behind which has formed small lava lakes. These are now flat in general appearance, covered with light colored clay, creating the impression of miniature "dry lakes." There is a breach on the west side of the crater where basaltic lava poured out over a vast area. Beyond the crater lies 24 square miles of lava flow containing such features as lava lakes, collapsed lava tubes and sinks, spatter cones and massive flows of basalt.
While there are many areas in the East Mojave where early American petroglyphs are present, these rock drawings are most abundant at Cow Cove and the hike is very easy.
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