The channeled scablands are located in Eastern Washington. These barren lands have been a mysterious discovery that had defied many geologists studies for centuries, up until the 1920's. Many geologists were able to come to a broad conclusion about the Scablands through the study of rocks. Many came to the conclusion that water had a large part to do with the erosion of the lands, but they did not have direct answers to how water was able to reach this land. The Scablands had no evidence that rivers had formed the landscape. The lands had huge potholes and rivers had never formed such large potholes which meant that the potholes could not be formed due to the normal river process.
There also came the issue of how erratic granite boulders were scattered randomly across the Scablands. These boulders were not one of normal behavior in the given environment, therefore with much research, researchers were able to recognize that these particular boulders were formed by glaciers. Also formed by glaciers were the scenic formation of hanging vallys. The problem with glaciers forming these natural elements, were that ice and glaciers were thousands of miles from where the Scablands were located.
Many researchers were trying to find out exactly where this lands unique characteristics derived from. However, it took J Harlen Bretz to come to the conclusion that a great flood created the scablands. Bretz went completely against the grain and stated his hypothesis,which wasn't taken too well. However, Joseph Thomas Pardee had proof that Bretz was right, but he did not provide the information initially. Eventually, Bretz was able to find out the a glacier had created a lake by damning a river and the lake was larger than Lake Erie and Ontario combined. This megaflood was able to form the natural aspects of the scablands. Eventually the water let out and the scablands were formed.
There also came the issue of how erratic granite boulders were scattered randomly across the Scablands. These boulders were not one of normal behavior in the given environment, therefore with much research, researchers were able to recognize that these particular boulders were formed by glaciers. Also formed by glaciers were the scenic formation of hanging vallys. The problem with glaciers forming these natural elements, were that ice and glaciers were thousands of miles from where the Scablands were located.
Many researchers were trying to find out exactly where this lands unique characteristics derived from. However, it took J Harlen Bretz to come to the conclusion that a great flood created the scablands. Bretz went completely against the grain and stated his hypothesis,which wasn't taken too well. However, Joseph Thomas Pardee had proof that Bretz was right, but he did not provide the information initially. Eventually, Bretz was able to find out the a glacier had created a lake by damning a river and the lake was larger than Lake Erie and Ontario combined. This megaflood was able to form the natural aspects of the scablands. Eventually the water let out and the scablands were formed.
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