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A new national park
place to endangered black condors nesting in iconic volcanic stone , California ’s Pinnacles National Monument is set to become America ’s new internal common . The park ’s dramatic peak are half of an eroded volcano . The twin one-half lie 195 miles ( 314 kilometers ) to the southeast , on the other side of the San Andreas Fault . The 1976 discovery of the 23 - million - year - onetime split volcano provides a unparalleled geologic mark of get-go along the defect . President Theodore Roosevelt established Pinnacles National Monument in 1908 , to preserve its massive monoliths and wildlife . The gargantuan steeple are now a popular rock climb destination .
Knobs and Spires
Rounded knob and superlative grow above Condor Gulch in Pinnacles National Monument . Weathering of volcanic rock give rise to the parking area ’s unique landscape .
Rhyolite cliffs
Rhyolite cliffs near the falls along the Condor Gulch Trail in Pinnacles National Monument . Rhyolite is a volcanic rock music alike to granite in paper ( mostly the mineral quartz and feldspar ) .
Pinnacles from space
A Landsat orbiter range of a function of California ’s Pinnacles National Monument , set up to become America ’s newest national park . The image was snap in June 2008 , when vegetation in the arid landscape was yellow and brown . The San Andreas Fault is the linear feature crossing the northeasterly corner of the ikon , just beyond the park boundary .
Hawkins Peak
Hawkins Peak as seen from the Condor Gulch Trail in Pinnacles National Monument in California . Rocks in the High Pinnacles area mould from explosive - style volcanic eruptions .
Barren pinnacles
Pinnacles constitute when erosion at the surface removes weather material before it can mold grease , leaving the rock music peril . This pattern is coarse in semi - arid regions with Mediterranean clime like California ’s Coast Ranges , home to Pinnacles National Monument .
Tilted rocks
A Second Earl of Guilford - confront view from the High Pinnacles toward Balconies Cliffs in the distance in California ’s Pinnacles National Monument . The formerly horizontal rock music layers have been tilted by geological personnel .
Bear Gulch Cave
Bear Gulch Cave in Pinnacles National Monument consists of passage between large boulders of volcanic tufa . The gargantuan blocks and boulders of volcanic rock that cover the creek bottom ( creating the cave ) may have crack up from the slopes above during rockfalls and landslides .
Condor at sunset
A condor dilute its wing at sundown in Pinnacles National Monument . The camera trap and scale helps park life scientist supervise the health of the endangered hoot .
I see you
A condor eyes a hidden camera at Pinnacles National Monument . The tv camera is located near a feeding site for the condor . The California Mungo Park is a release site for the endangered razzing , and there are 32 free - fly condor within its bounds . The condor pictured here become flat from lead poisoning in 2008 .
Perch battle
Two condors grab at a photographic camera trap installed at Pinnacles National Monument . The camera trap has snapped condors fighting for the opportunity to abide on the scale , according to the National Park Service . Condor 40 , seen on the flat coat , was one of the most active and aggressive male person when he arrived at the park , the park service of process said on its website .
