WEBVTT

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MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE DESERT
SPEAKS HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY

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ASARCO, INC., AN INTEGRATED
PRODUCER OF OF NONFERROUS METALS

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AND OTHER INDUSTRIAL MINERALS
AND PRODUCTS.

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ASARCO, INC., ADDING VALUE
TO NATURE'S RESOURCES.

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[MUSIC/NATURE SOUNDS]

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A LOT OF WHAT THE SONORAN
DESERT HAS TO SAY WHEN IT SPEAKS

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REPEATS THE POINT THAT THIS
ISN'T EXACTLY

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MOST FOLKS' NOTION OF A DESERT.

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IT'S FULL OF LIFE WHEN
YOU TAKE A GOOD LOOK.

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A LOT OF US WHEN WE
HEAR THE WORD DESERT

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IMAGINE THE MOVIE
DESERTS OF NORTH AFRICA.

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WELL, THERE IS A LITTLE BAKED
CORNER OF THE SONORAN DESERT

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THAT COMES SOMEWHAT CLOSER TO
THOSE CAMEL-TESTING AREAS,

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THE SIERRA DEL PINACATE.

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HOWEVER, THE PINACATE IS NOT
DESERTED. IT'S ALIVE.

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THIS PLACE GETS TO YOU.

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I THINK EVEN THE MOST
DEDICATED CITY SLICKER

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WOULD FEEL A LITTLE OF THAT KICK
THE FIRST TRAVELERS DID HERE,

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THAT EXCITEMENT OF DISCOVERY.

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THE FEELING
ENDURES FOR A FEW,

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LIKE THE RESEARCHERS WHO STUDY
THE PINACATE.

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[SPEAKING SPANISH]

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THE VALLEY AND THE BEAUTY
OF EL PINACATE DATES BACK

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TO THE ARRIVAL OF THE SPANISH
EXPLORERS THAT VISITED THE AREA.

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IN THE WRITTEN NARRATIVES,
THEY TALK ABOUT

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THE IMPRESSIVE SCENIC
BEAUTY OF THE AREA.

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EL PINACATE IS A RELATIVELY
NEW VOLCANO WITH ITS OWN

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UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS
ON THE WHOLE CONTINENT.

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[SPEAKING SPANISH]

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WE CONSIDER EL PINACATE THE
HEART OF THE SONORAN DESERT.

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IT IS A REGION EMINENTLY
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE

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SONORAN DESERT, SHARED BY THE
STATES OF SONORA AND ARIZONA.

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THE LITTLE NECK OF LAND BETWEEN
THE INTERNATIONAL BORDER

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AND THE TOP OF THE GULF OF
CALIFORNIA

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IS JUST ABOUT FIFTY MILES WIDE,

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WITH THE PINACATE
RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE.

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WITH VERY FEW MEN
AND MACHINES AROUND,

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IT CAN GET PRETTY QUIET HERE.

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BUT VISUALLY THERE'S A LOT THAT
SUGGESTS ANYTHING BUT SERENITY.

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A FEW THOUSAND YEARS AGO,

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THIS WAS THE SCENE OF SOME
EARTHSHAKING VIOLENCE.

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[SOUNDS OF ERUPTIONS]

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THIS SURE MAKES FOR
TOUGH WALKING, DAVE.

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YEAH, I THINK ALL
THIS LOOSE CLINKER LAVA'S

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JUST ABOUT LIKE IT WAS WHEN IT
FIRST CAME OUT OF THE VOLCANO.

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WHAT MUST THIS HAVE LOOKED
LIKE DURING AN ERUPTION?

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WELL, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN
REALLY GIGANTIC AND LOUD.

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THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOT OF
NOISE FROM THE FIRE FOUNTAIN

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IN THE BACKGROUND
AS THE VOLCANO ERUPTED.

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THEN THERE ALSO WOULD HAVE
BEEN A LOT OF NOISE FROM

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THIS CLINKERY SOUND THAT WE'RE
MAKING AS OUR FEET GO ACROSS IT.

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WHEN I TRY TO MULTIPLY
THIS BY THE WHOLE SIZE OF THIS

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LAVA FIELD, AND YOU CAN IMAGINE
THE SOUND THAT IT WOULD HAVE.

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A DEAFENING ROAR.
YEAH.

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WELL, THE LAVA WOULD HAVE
FLOWED DOWN THE MOUNTAIN

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AND SORT OF GONE AROUND
LITTLE HILLS AND MESAS

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AND GONE BACK INTO ITSELF AND SO
ON AND JUST MADE LIKE A RIVER.

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YOU WOULD HAVE
SEEN THE RED, TOO,

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SHOWING HERE AND THERE WHERE
THE CLINKER AND THE CINDERS

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MOVED ASIDE AND
SPLIT OPEN AND CROSSED OVER

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AND GET BLACK AGAIN.

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HOW HOT WOULD THIS LAVA HAVE
BEEN, DAVE?

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WELL, IT WOULD HAVE COME
OUT OF THE VOLCANO

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AT ABOUT TWO THOUSAND
DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.

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THEN, OF COURSE, IT COOLS FROM
THERE ON ITS WAY

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DOWN THE MOUNTAIN, UNTIL
BY THE TIME IT'S DOWN TO HERE

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YOU MIGHT HAVE PICKED ONE OF
THESE UP WITH A PAIR OF GLOVES

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AND HELD IT.

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YEAH, THE OTHER CORRECT NAME FOR
THIS STUFF IS ACTUALLY "'A 'A"

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WHICH IS THE HAWAIIAN
WORD FOR WHAT THEY SAY

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WHEN THEY WALK IT ACROSS
WITH THEIR BARE FEET.

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AND THAT'S REALLY HOW THIS
STUFF WAS NAMED.

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I GUESS RIGHT HERE,
DAVE, WE'RE IN THE HEART

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OF THE SONORAN
DESERT, AREN'T WE?

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YOU COULD CERTAINLY
SAY THAT, YES.

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AND I CALL THIS BIG VOLCANO
THAT WE'RE WALKING UP

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THE HEARTBEAT
OF THIS DESERT.

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AND THE REASON I DO THAT
IS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW,

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WHEN THE EARTH FIRST FORMED
ABOUT FOUR BILLION YEARS AGO,

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THERE WAS THING THAT HAPPENED
CALLED "THE IRON CATASTROPHE"

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WHERE MOST OF THE IRON
OF THE EARTH SUNK DOWN

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TO THE EARTH'S CORE, LIKE THE
YOLK OF AN EGG. YEAH.

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WHAT WAS LEFT IN THE CRUST
WASN'T TOO MUCH.

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AND NOW IF WE WANT TO GET
AN APPRECIABLE AMOUNT OF IRON

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UP HERE IN THE CRUST OF THE
EARTH, THE WAY IT COMES OUT

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IS IN THE FORM OF ALL
THIS LAVA RIGHT HERE.

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DAVE, IS THERE A RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN THIS BARREN LOOKING LAVA

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AND LIVING THINGS, PLANTS AND
ANIMALS?

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WELL, THERE SURE IS.

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WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE
LAVA PROVIDING THE IRON,

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IT PUTS IT IN THE SOIL AND THEN
THE PLANTS CAN GROW IN THE SOIL

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AND THEY'LL PICK UP
SOME OF THAT IRON.

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YOU KNOW, A LOT OF
PLANTS ARE IRON RICH

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AND PEOPLE LIKE TO EAT 'EM,
SPINACH AND SO ON.

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AND WHAT HAPPENS THEN IS THE
IRON CAN GET INTO YOUR BLOOD

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AND AGAIN GIVE YOU THE
HEMOGLOBIN THAT YOU NEED

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IN ORDER TO CARRY OXYGEN
TO THE CELLS OF YOUR BODY.

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YOU WOULDN'T BE NEEDING TO CARRY
THAT OXYGEN TO YOUR BODY,

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THOUGH, IF THERE
WASN'T ANY OXYGEN HERE,

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AND IT'S THE PLANTS
THAT PUT THE OXYGEN

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INTO THE ATMOSPHERE OF THE
EARTH IN THE FIRST PLACE.

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THERE WAS NO OXYGEN HERE PRIOR
TO PLANTS PHOTOSYNTHESIZING

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AND PUTTING OXYGEN
INTO THE ATMOSPHERE.

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ONCE THAT OXYGEN WAS
HERE, IT WAS AVAILABLE

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FOR AN ANIMAL
THEORETICALLY TO BREATHE,

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BUT IT WOULDN'T HAVE DONE
AN ANIMAL ANY GOOD

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TO DO THAT WITHOUT IRON FROM,
ESSENTIALLY FROM A VOLCANO

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OR FROM THE HEART
OF THE EARTH.

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IN SPITE OF ITS DEAD LOOKING
APPEARANCE IT SUSTAINS LIFE.

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ABSOLUTELY.

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AND IT HELPS IT IN
MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.

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WE SAID THIS PLACE WAS
ALIVE AND AT THIS POINT

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IT MAY NOT SEEM VERY HOSPITABLE.

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NOT WHEN THE GROUND
WE'RE WALKING ON ACTS

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LIKE BIG CHUNKS OF BROKEN CHINA.

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BUT THAT'S JUST
FOR PEOPLE WALKING

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AND THERE AREN'T MANY PEOPLE
HERE.

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FOR SOME LIVING THINGS,
THIS TERRITORY IS JUST DANDY.

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MARK, WHAT KIND OF PLANTS
ARE UNIQUE TO THIS AREA?

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BOTANICALLY SPEAKING,
THERE'S NOT REALLY MUCH

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UNIQUE ABOUT THE
PLANTS THEMSELVES.

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THE VEGETATION TELLS AN
INTERESTING STORY, THOUGH.

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PRIMARILY BECAUSE WE ARE HERE IN
THE CENTER OF THE SONORAN DESERT

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AND MORE IMPORTANTLY AT THE VERY
DRIEST SECTION OF THE

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SONORAN DESERT IN THE LOWER
COLORADO VALLEY SUBDIVISION.

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UH-HUH.

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SO THE VEGETATION THAT GROWS
HERE ARE THE SPECIES

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THAT ARE THE TOLERANT
OF THE MOST DROUGHT.

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THERE'S AN AWFUL LOT OF THESE
GRAY LOOKING PLANTS AROUND HERE.

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THE GRAY MOUNDS
ARE BRITTLE BUSH.

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AND THEY'RE COMMON THROUGHOUT
THE ENTIRE SONORAN DESERT,

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BUT THE DRYER THE HABITAT
THE MORE ABUNDANT THEY ARE.

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PROBABLY BECAUSE THE
COMPETITION DROPS OUT.

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AND HERE IT'S DEFINITELY
THE MOST ABUNDANT PLANT.

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THIS LOOKS A LOT LIKE AN
ORGAN PIPE CACTUS, MARK.

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YES, IT DOES. IT HAS THE SAME
GROWTH FORM IN THAT IT BRANCHES

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FROM THE BASE AND DOESN'T
BRANCH MUCH ABOVE GROUND.

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BUT IT'S ANOTHER
SPECIES CALLED SENITA.

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AND SENITA BASICALLY
TRANSLATES "LITTLE OLD LADY"

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OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

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IT'S CALLED THAT BECAUSE
THE UPPER STEMS,

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WHEN THEY MATURE, DEVELOP
A LONG BRISTLY SPINE.

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PRESUMABLY THAT FUNCTION
IS TO KEEP ANIMALS

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FROM CRAWLING UP THE STEM AND
EATING THE FLOWERS

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WHICH OCCUR ONLY ON THAT
BRISTLY PART.

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BOY, THAT'S A LOT
OF PROTECTION.

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IT LOOKS PRETTY AFFECTIVE TO ME.

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ONLY FLYING ANIMALS CAN
GET AT THOSE FLOWERS.

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BATS AND MOTHS PROBABLY
POLLINATE IT.

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WHAT OTHER KIND OF PLANTS DO
WE SEE AROUND HERE?

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CREOSOTE IS PROBABLY THE
MOST INTERESTING PLANT

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IN THE WHOLE SONORAN DESERT.

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A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK ME
CRAZY TO HEAR ME SAY THAT,

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BECAUSE IT'S SO ABUNDANT
PEOPLE DON'T THINK ABOUT IT.

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IT'S THE MOST COMMON PLANT
IN THE SONORAN DESERT.

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IT'S ALSO THE MOST COMMON
PLANT IN THE CHIHUAHUA

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AND MOJAVE DESERTS, SO IT'S
ABUNDANT IN THREE

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OF THE FOUR NORTH
AMERICAN DESERTS.

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IT'S NOT EVEN NATIVE
TO THIS AREA, HOWEVER.

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IT AROSE IN ARGENTINA.

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AND SOMEHOW IT GOT UP
HERE TO NORTH AMERICAN

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MILLIONS OF YEARS AGO.

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BUT IT GOT UP HERE ON ITS OWN
FROM A SOUTH AMERICAN ORIGIN.

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I'VE HEARD THESE
PLANTS ARE REALLY OLD, MARK.

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IS THAT TRUE?
APPARENTLY IT IS.

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YOU CAN'T DATE THESE DIRECTLY
BY TREE RING COUNTING

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AS YOU CAN WITH THINGS
WITH BIG TRUNKS OR BY

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DIRECT CARBON DATING OF REMNANT
STEMS BECAUSE THEY DISAPPEAR.

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BUT THERE ARE OTHER WAYS
OF ESTIMATING THE AGE

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OF THESE THINGS AND THEY'RE
OBVIOUSLY CAPABLE

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OF LIVING THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

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AND SOME OF THE OLDEST
ONES IN THE MOJAVE DESERT

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ARE APPARENTLY AS MUCH AS TEN OR
EVEN ELEVEN THOUSAND YEARS OLD.

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IF THIS LITTLE BUSH IS
THOUSANDS OF YEARS OLD,

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HOW OLD ARE SOME
OF THESE TREES?

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WELL, THE ANSWERS KIND
OF ANTI-CLIMACTIC,

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BECAUSE MOST OF THE TREES
APPARENTLY

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DON'T LIVE NEARLY THAT LONG.

09:39.901 --> 09:41.567 align:start
FIRST OF ALL, MANY OF
THE TREES IN OUR REGION

09:41.667 --> 09:43.100 align:start
HAVE NEVER BEEN DATED.

09:43.200 --> 09:45.267 align:start
AND A NUMBER OF THEM, LIKE
THIS ELEPHANT TREE HERE,

09:45.367 --> 09:46.834 align:start
CAN'T BE DATED.

09:46.934 --> 09:49.534 align:start
IT DOESN'T HAVE
NORMAL GROWTH RINGS.

09:49.634 --> 09:51.734 align:start
WHEN IT DIES, IT'S MOSTLY
WATER STORAGE TISSUE.

09:51.834 --> 09:55.334 align:start
WHEN THIS TREE DIES, IT
VIRTUALLY ROTS AWAY INTO NOTHING

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AND PAPERY STUFF
IN A COUPLE OF YEARS.

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AND WE HAVE NO
IDEA HOW OLD IT IS.

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THERE'S NO WAY TO
TELL.

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YOU KNOW, MARK, I'VE LIVED
IN THE DESERT FOR YEARS

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AND I'VE NEVER SEEN
AN ELEPHANT HERE,

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SO WHY DO THEY CALL THAT AN
ELEPHANT TREE?

10:07.868 --> 10:09.767 align:start
THERE HAVEN'T BEEN ANY HERE
SINCE THE ICE AGE ANYWAY.

10:09.868 --> 10:13.701 align:start
IT'S CALLED AN ELEPHANT
TREE BECAUSE OF ITS THICK STEMS.

10:13.801 --> 10:14.868 align:start
IT'S A SUCCULENT PLANT.

10:14.968 --> 10:17.067 align:start
IT'S STORING WATER IN THOSE
STEMS AND THAT WATER

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STORAGE TISSUE MAKES THE
TRUNK AND THE MAJOR STEMS

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MUCH LARGER THAN YOU WOULD
EXPECT THEM TO BE

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FOR A TREE OF THIS SIZE.

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SO IT HAS, TO SOME
PEOPLE APPARENTLY

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IT LOOKS LIKE AN
ELEPHANT'S LEGS OR TRUNKS.

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ELEPHANT TREES ARE
ANOTHER TROPICAL MEMBER

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OF THE SONORAN DESERT FLORA,

10:32.100 --> 10:34.567 align:start
OF WHICH ALMOST ALL OF OUR
PERENNIAL PLANTS ARE.

10:34.667 --> 10:36.400 align:start
THIS IS A PRETTY GOOD SIZE TREE

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FOR FIVE OR SIX INCHES OF
RAIN A YEAR.

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WHAT LIMITS IS THAT JUST
ABOUT FIFTY MILES NORTH OF HERE

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THERE'S TOO MUCH FROST.

10:41.801 --> 10:44.434 align:start
AND TROPICAL PLANTS JUST
CANNOT TOLERATE FROST.

10:44.534 --> 10:47.400 align:start
WHEN I THINK OF DESERT, I DON'T
EXPECT TO SEE TREES.

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IT'S BECAUSE MOST DESERTS
ARE IN FACT TREELESS

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OR VIRTUALLY TREELESS.

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THERE ARE ALMOST NO
TREES IN THE OTHER

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THREE OF THE FOUR NORTH
AMERICAN DESERTS.

10:54.968 --> 10:56.801 align:start
HERE, WE'RE IN A
TROPICAL DESERT.

10:56.901 --> 11:00.667 align:start
ITS ORIGIN IS IN SOUTHERN SONORA
AND A DECIDUOUS TROPICAL FOREST.

11:00.767 --> 11:03.434 align:start
AND, IN FACT, MOST OF THE AREA
THAT WE CALL THE SONORAN DESERT,

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MOST PEOPLE DON'T REALLY
CONSIDER A TRUE DESERT.

11:05.901 --> 11:07.567 align:start
IT'S JUST TOO
WET AND TOO LUSH.

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HERE IN THE PINACATE, THE
FIVE OR SIX INCHES OF RAINFALL,

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AND EVEN DOWN TO TWO INCHES
IN SOME OF THE DRIER AREAS,

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MOST PEOPLE WILL AGREE
IS REALLY A DESERT.

11:15.167 --> 11:16.801 align:start
BUT SOME OF THE TREES CAN
STILL TOLERATE THAT

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AS LONG AS THEY DON'T GET
TOO MUCH FROST.

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FROST-FREE WOULD BE THE MAIN
SELLING POINT TO ANIMALS, TOO,

11:25.901 --> 11:28.534 align:start
IF THERE WERE BROCHURES
PROMOTING THIS DESERT.

11:28.634 --> 11:32.534 align:start
HOWEVER, I'D ADVISE SMALL
ANIMALS CONSIDERING A MOVE HERE,

11:32.634 --> 11:34.634 align:start
TO THROW OUT ALL THEIR
LIGHT COLORED CLOTHES

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EVEN THOUGH IT'S HOT.

11:36.234 --> 11:38.167 align:start
AS WE'LL SEE, THE DARKER STYLES

11:38.267 --> 11:40.968 align:start
CAN BE A SERIOUS, PRACTICAL
MATTER.

11:41.067 --> 11:45.200 align:start
HOWARD, RIGHT HERE IN THE HEART
OF THE PINACATE,

11:45.300 --> 11:48.000 align:start
WHAT KIND
OF REPTILES CAN WE FIND?

11:48.100 --> 11:50.334 align:start
WELL, THE REPTILES OCCURRING
HERE ARE FAIRLY TYPICAL

11:50.434 --> 11:53.234 align:start
THROUGHOUT THE LOWER
COLORADO RIVER VALLEY

11:53.334 --> 11:55.300 align:start
SUBDIVISION OF THE
SONORAN DESERT.

11:55.400 --> 11:59.834 align:start
AND IN THIS SUBDIVISION WE
HAVE BROAD, FLAT VALLEYS,

11:59.934 --> 12:03.467 align:start
WE HAVE DUNES, AND
WE HAVE THESE ROCKY,

12:03.567 --> 12:07.734 align:start
VERY DRY MOUNTAINS
COMPRISED CHIEFLY OF GRANITE

12:07.834 --> 12:10.033 align:start
OR, AS WE SEE
HERE IN THE PINACATE,

12:10.133 --> 12:13.467 align:start
OFTEN COMPOSED OF LAVA.

12:13.567 --> 12:19.868 align:start
GENERALLY, THESE REPTILES WHICH
OCCUPY THESE ROCKY HABITATS

12:19.968 --> 12:23.734 align:start
VERY NICELY DEMONSTRATE THIS
CONCEPT OF BACKGROUND MATCHING,

12:23.834 --> 12:25.634 align:start
WHICH IS A FUNCTION OF NATURAL
SELECTION

12:25.734 --> 12:29.701 align:start
WHERE THOSE OVER TIME WHICH
STAND OUT IN CONTRAST

12:29.801 --> 12:33.534 align:start
TO THE COLOR OF THE ROCKS, ARE
PICKED OFF BY PREDATORS,

12:33.634 --> 12:36.267 align:start
LEAVING THOSE WHICH HAVE
DARKER COLORATION

12:36.367 --> 12:37.501 align:start
WHICH BLEND MORE EFFECTIVELY.

12:37.601 --> 12:41.901 align:start
AND OVER TIME THE ENTIRE
POPULATIONS TAKE ON A VERY DARK

12:42.000 --> 12:46.267 align:start
APPEARANCE WHICH RENDERS THEM
MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO SEE.

12:46.367 --> 12:48.868 align:start
THERE'S NOT MUCH THEN THAT'S
UNIQUE TO THE PINACATE.

12:48.968 --> 12:50.968 align:start
IT'S JUST THE COLORATIONS
AND ADAPTATIONS?

12:51.067 --> 12:52.167 align:start
THAT'S RIGHT.

12:52.267 --> 12:54.834 align:start
AND THAT, OF COURSE, IS
DIRECTLY RELATED TO THIS

12:54.934 --> 13:00.000 align:start
DYNAMIC GEOLOGIC ACTIVITY
HERE THROUGH VOLCANISM.

13:00.100 --> 13:04.534 align:start
HOW ABOUT ANIMALS IN THIS AREA,
DO WE SEE COYOTES AND BOBCATS?

13:04.634 --> 13:08.200 align:start
COYOTES ARE QUITE
PREVALENT HERE,

13:08.300 --> 13:13.234 align:start
FEEDING OF COURSE ON SMALL
MAMMALS, RABBITS, SMALL RODENTS.

13:13.334 --> 13:16.634 align:start
KANGAROO MICE? PACKRATS, THAT
TYPE OF THING.

13:16.734 --> 13:18.367 align:start
THEY ALSO EAT REPTILES.

13:18.467 --> 13:20.501 align:start
AND WHEN THEY CAN CATCH
A SNAKE OR A LIZARD,

13:20.601 --> 13:24.734 align:start
THEY'RE VERY HAPPY
TO DO SO. SURE.

13:24.834 --> 13:27.634 align:start
AROUND THE EDGES EDGES OF THE
PINACATE,

13:27.734 --> 13:33.667 align:start
WE FIND A VAST DUNES AREA CALLED
IN MEXICO THE GRANDE CIERTO.

13:33.767 --> 13:36.367 align:start
AND IT EXTENDS INTO
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND THERE

13:36.467 --> 13:40.567 align:start
IT'S CALLED THE ALGODONES
DUNES OR COTTON DUNES.

13:40.667 --> 13:44.567 align:start
BUT IT'S AN EXTENSIVE
LOOSE SHIFTING DUNES FORMATION

13:44.667 --> 13:47.467 align:start
THAT GRADUALLY GRADES
INTO DESERT PAVEMENT

13:47.567 --> 13:48.667 align:start
AROUND THE EDGES.

13:48.767 --> 13:51.200 align:start
AND HERE WE HAVE
A VERY UNIQUE

13:51.300 --> 13:55.734 align:start
AND HIGHLY SPECIALIZED
REPTILIAN FAUNA.

13:55.834 --> 13:58.767 align:start
THERE ARE SOME SPECIES WHICH
LIVE ENTIRELY ON THE DUNES,

13:58.868 --> 14:00.734 align:start
LIKE THE
FRINGE TOED LIZARD,

14:00.834 --> 14:04.000 align:start
WHICH IS UNIQUELY ADAPTED
FOR THIS TYPE OF HABITAT.

14:04.100 --> 14:05.367 align:start
WE DON'T SEE
HIM UP HERE, THEN?

14:05.467 --> 14:06.834 align:start
WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEE
HIM IN THE ROCKY AREA,

14:06.934 --> 14:09.801 align:start
OR EVEN VERY COMMONLY
ON THE DESERT PAVEMENT

14:09.901 --> 14:11.834 align:start
SURROUNDING THE DUNES.

14:11.934 --> 14:15.934 align:start
BUT THEY'RE LARGELY RESTRICTED
TO THIS LOOSE SHIFTING SAND,

14:16.033 --> 14:20.234 align:start
WHERE THESE
LONG FRINGE LIKE SCALES

14:20.334 --> 14:24.734 align:start
ON THEIR TOES FUNCTION VERY MUCH
LIKE SAND SHOES, IF YOU WILL,

14:24.834 --> 14:27.667 align:start
OR SNOW SHOES
IN THE SAND.

14:27.767 --> 14:29.067 align:start
AND IT HELPS THEM GET BOTH
TRACTION AND KEEP FROM

14:29.167 --> 14:32.334 align:start
GETTING MIRED DOWN
IN THE LOOSE SAND.

14:32.434 --> 14:35.601 align:start
THE FRINGE TOED LIZARD ALSO
HAS A COUNTERSUNK LOWER JAW,

14:35.701 --> 14:36.734 align:start
A WEDGE SHAPED HEAD,

14:36.834 --> 14:38.300 align:start
SO THAT WHEN IT'S
PURSUED BY PREDATORS,

14:38.400 --> 14:41.634 align:start
OR IT SIMPLY WANTS TO GET AWAY
FROM THE HEAT ON THE SURFACE,

14:41.734 --> 14:44.534 align:start
THEY CAN RUN ALONG AND
DIVE RIGHT INTO THE SAND

14:44.634 --> 14:46.400 align:start
AND THEN THEY'LL SHIMMY
ALONG AND LITERALLY SWIM

14:46.501 --> 14:48.200 align:start
BENEATH THE SURFACE
SOME DISTANCE

14:48.300 --> 14:50.067 align:start
FROM THE POINT WHERE
THEY ENTER IT. YEAH.

14:50.167 --> 14:51.634 align:start
SO, IF THEY'RE BEING
PURSUED BY A PREDATOR,

14:51.734 --> 14:53.334 align:start
THE PREDATOR'S LIKELY TO
START DIGGING AROUND

14:53.434 --> 14:55.534 align:start
WHERE THEY SAW THE LIZARD
DISAPPEAR IN THE SAND

14:55.634 --> 15:00.400 align:start
AND THE LIZARD'S SEVERAL
FEET AWAY BY THEN.

15:00.501 --> 15:03.534 align:start
THE SIDEWINDERS OCCUR IN
THE DUNES AND ALSO ON THE FLATS

15:03.634 --> 15:05.100 align:start
HAVE A RATHER WIDE
DISTRIBUTION THROUGHOUT

15:05.200 --> 15:10.234 align:start
THE LOWER COLORADO RIVER
VALLEY SUBDIVISION.

15:10.334 --> 15:13.701 align:start
THE SIDEWINDERS ARE UNIQUELY
ADAPTED FOR MOVING ON SAND.

15:13.801 --> 15:16.901 align:start
IN FACT, THAT'S WHERE THE SIDE
WINDING LOCOMOTION

15:17.000 --> 15:18.734 align:start
ACTUALLY EVOLVED.

15:18.834 --> 15:25.701 align:start
AND IT'S ESSENTIALLY A METHOD
OF WALKING ACROSS THE SAND

15:25.801 --> 15:27.534 align:start
WITH ONLY TWO POINTS
OF THE SNAKE'S BODY

15:27.634 --> 15:30.067 align:start
IN CONTACT WITH THE
SURFACE AT ANY GIVEN TIME.

15:30.167 --> 15:33.067 align:start
AND, IF YOU'VE EVER SEEN
THE TRACKS OF A SIDEWINDER,

15:33.167 --> 15:36.868 align:start
YOU NOTICE THAT IT'S A
SERIES OF TRANSVERSE

15:36.968 --> 15:40.501 align:start
J SHAPED MARKS THAT AREN'T
CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER.

15:40.601 --> 15:42.334 align:start
THERE'S A LITTLE
SPACE BETWEEN 'EM.

15:42.434 --> 15:44.300 align:start
AND THAT TELLS US RIGHT
THERE THAT THE SNAKE

15:44.400 --> 15:46.434 align:start
HAS ACTUALLY ELEVATED THE BODY
AND PLANTED IT

15:46.534 --> 15:50.100 align:start
AND THEN ROLLED THE COIL FORWARD
AND REPEATED THAT PROCESS

15:50.200 --> 15:52.601 align:start
AS IT MOVES
ACROSS THE SAND,

15:52.701 --> 15:54.734 align:start
LITERALLY WALKING ON THESE
TWO CONTACT POINTS.

15:54.834 --> 15:56.868 align:start
THAT'S HIS METHOD OF TIPTOEING
THROUGH THAT HOT SAND?

15:56.968 --> 15:57.968 align:start
THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

15:58.067 --> 16:01.000 align:start
BY KEEPING, PROBABLY NINETY
PERCENT OF THE BODY

16:01.100 --> 16:02.901 align:start
OFF THE SURFACE AT
ANY GIVEN TIME,

16:03.000 --> 16:07.000 align:start
THAT REDUCES THE RATE OF BODY
HEATING FROM THE SURFACE.

16:07.100 --> 16:12.767 align:start
AND IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS
THAT EXTENDS THE OPPORTUNITY

16:12.868 --> 16:14.701 align:start
FOR ACTIVITY
FOR THE SIDEWINDER.

16:14.801 --> 16:16.467 align:start
SURPRISINGLY,
DESERT SNAKES,

16:16.567 --> 16:18.334 align:start
EVEN THOSE OCCURRING
IN THE HOTTEST PARTS

16:18.434 --> 16:22.267 align:start
OF THE SONORAN DESERT,
WILL DIE VERY QUICKLY

16:22.367 --> 16:25.067 align:start
IF THEIR BODY TEMPERATURES
EXCEED ABOUT NINETY-FIVE DEGREES

16:25.167 --> 16:30.167 align:start
FAHRENHEIT FOR AN EXTENDED
PERIOD OF TIME.

16:30.267 --> 16:33.234 align:start
IS THERE ANY OTHER SNAKE THAT'S
ACTIVE IN THE SAND?

16:33.334 --> 16:35.234 align:start
WELL, ANOTHER ONE
THAT COMES TO MIND,

16:35.334 --> 16:39.167 align:start
USING A LITTLE DIFFERENT
ADAPTIVE STRATEGY TO COPE

16:39.267 --> 16:41.634 align:start
WITH THE LOOSE
SAND IN THE DUNES,

16:41.734 --> 16:44.267 align:start
IS THE SHOVEL NOSE SNAKE.

16:44.367 --> 16:46.667 align:start
NOW THAT'S A SNAKE
THAT HAS DEVELOPED

16:46.767 --> 16:52.300 align:start
THE SAME PHYSICAL TRAITS THAT WE
SEE IN THE FRINGE TOED LIZARD

16:52.400 --> 16:54.400 align:start
WITH REGARD
TO THE HEAD SHAPE,

16:54.501 --> 16:58.400 align:start
THE WEDGE SHAPED HEAD,
COUNTERSUNK LOWER JAW, LITTLE

16:58.501 --> 17:01.968 align:start
NASAL VALVES THAT CAN CLOSE
TO KEEP THE SAND GRAINS OUT.

17:02.067 --> 17:05.267 align:start
AND THESE LITTLE SNAKES
ARE VERY ADEPT AT SWIMMING

17:05.367 --> 17:06.968 align:start
BENEATH THE SURFACE
OF THE SAND.

17:07.067 --> 17:09.534 align:start
NOW, THEY DO COME TO THE SURFACE
UNDER THE RIGHT CONDITIONS.

17:09.634 --> 17:11.834 align:start
SOMETIMES WE'LL SEE THEIR TRACKS
ON THE SURFACE OF THE DUNES

17:11.934 --> 17:16.067 align:start
IN THE MORNING BEFORE
THE WIND OBSCURES THEM.

17:16.167 --> 17:17.067 align:start
THEY DON'T
SIDEWIND, DO THEY?

17:17.167 --> 17:19.200 align:start
THEY DON'T SIDEWIND,
THEY GENERALLY CRAWL

17:19.300 --> 17:21.968 align:start
IN MORE OR LESS TYPICAL
SERPENTINE FASHION.

17:22.067 --> 17:25.334 align:start
BUT THEY GENERALLY DO IT
BENEATH THE SURFACE OF THE SAND.

17:25.434 --> 17:27.767 align:start
BECAUSE THERE'S NO SURFACE
COVER IN THE DUNES,

17:27.868 --> 17:29.234 align:start
OR AT LEAST IT'S
VERY SPARSE.

17:29.334 --> 17:30.801 align:start
THERE ARE SCATTERED
SHRUBS AND PLANTS,

17:30.901 --> 17:33.934 align:start
BUT IT'S A VERY
OPEN HABITAT.

17:34.033 --> 17:39.634 align:start
SO THEY HAVE TO USE THE
SUBSTRATE ITSELF AS THE COVER.

17:39.734 --> 17:44.133 align:start
HOWARD, IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE
ANIMALS HERE HAVE ADAPTED

17:44.234 --> 17:45.300 align:start
PERFECTLY TO WHAT WE WOULD
CONSIDER

17:45.400 --> 17:46.868 align:start
EXTREMELY HARD CONDITIONS.

17:46.968 --> 17:48.234 align:start
WELL, IT'S VERY TRUE.

17:48.334 --> 17:50.767 align:start
IN FACT, IF WE TOOK MOST OF
THESE ANIMALS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT

17:50.868 --> 17:55.300 align:start
OUT OF THE LOWER COLORADO
RIVER VALLEY SUBDIVISION,

17:55.400 --> 17:56.634 align:start
PUT 'EM SOMEWHERE ELSE,

17:56.734 --> 17:58.234 align:start
THEY WOULDN'T FARE
NEARLY AS WELL,

17:58.334 --> 17:59.968 align:start
IN FACT IN MOST CASES
THEY WOULDN'T SURVIVE AT ALL.

18:00.067 --> 18:14.601 align:start
[BIRDS SINGING]

18:14.701 --> 18:16.033 align:start
AS DRY AS IT IS,

18:16.133 --> 18:20.100 align:start
NONE OF THE LIVING THINGS WOULD
BE HERE WITHOUT SOME WATER.

18:20.200 --> 18:22.100 align:start
AND THE SUBJECT OF
WATER, SURPRISINGLY,

18:22.200 --> 18:28.634 align:start
TAKES US BACK TO THE
FIERY VOLCANOES.

18:28.734 --> 18:31.367 align:start
IN ADDITION TO LAVA, THERE MUST
HAVE BEEN GASES AND STEAM

18:31.467 --> 18:32.801 align:start
POURING OUT OF THAT VOLCANO?

18:32.901 --> 18:34.400 align:start
YEAH, THERE
WERE, ACTUALLY.

18:34.501 --> 18:36.434 align:start
MOST BIG VOLCANOES,
WHEN YOU SEE 'EM ERUPT,

18:36.534 --> 18:38.501 align:start
HAVE A GIANT KIND OF
CAULIFLOWER SHAPED CLOUD

18:38.601 --> 18:39.868 align:start
COMING UP TO
THE TOP OF IT.

18:39.968 --> 18:42.400 align:start
AND USUALLY THAT'S MORE
STEAM THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

18:42.501 --> 18:44.467 align:start
IN FACT, AN ACTIVE VOLCANO
CAN ERUPT MORE STEAM

18:44.567 --> 18:45.701 align:start
THAN ANY OTHER SUBSTANCE,
EVEN MORE THAN LAVA.

18:45.801 --> 18:49.767 align:start
AND IT'S THOUGHT NOW
THAT, THAT THE STEAM

18:49.868 --> 18:52.000 align:start
THAT COMES OUT OF VOLCANOES IS
WHAT ORIGINALLY PROVIDED

18:52.100 --> 18:53.767 align:start
ALL THE WATER ON THE
SURFACE OF THE EARTH

18:53.868 --> 18:55.701 align:start
INCLUDING THE RIVERS AND LAKES
AND THE WHOLE OCEAN.

18:55.801 --> 19:02.534 align:start
IT ALL CAME OUT OF VOLCANOES
IN THE FORM OF WATER.

19:02.634 --> 19:06.968 align:start
THERE'S SOME AMAZING
SHAPES TO THESE ROCKS OUT HERE.

19:07.067 --> 19:09.534 align:start
YEAH, THEY FORM A
LOT OF UNIQUE FEATURES,

19:09.634 --> 19:14.367 align:start
LAND FORMS AND SO ON,
THAT ARE UNIQUE TO A LAVA FIELD.

19:14.467 --> 19:17.868 align:start
A REAL GOOD EXAMPLE OF
THAT IS THE 'A 'A LAVA THAT

19:17.968 --> 19:20.200 align:start
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER
THAT'S REAL ROUGH AND JAGGED.

19:20.300 --> 19:22.334 align:start
THERE'S ANOTHER
HAWAIIAN WORD,

19:22.434 --> 19:24.200 align:start
THIS ONE'S CALLED
"PAHOEHOE."

19:24.300 --> 19:27.634 align:start
AND PAHOEHOE IN
HAWAIIAN MEANS ROPY.

19:27.734 --> 19:30.501 align:start
AND IT'S A LAVA SURFACE
THAT LOOKS REAL ROPY

19:30.601 --> 19:32.767 align:start
AND KIND OF LIKE IT
WAS REAL WET.

19:32.868 --> 19:34.734 align:start
AND INDEED, IT DOES COME
FROM LAVA THAT WAS VERY HOT

19:34.834 --> 19:36.434 align:start
AND VERY RUNNY
WHEN IT FORMED,

19:36.534 --> 19:39.234 align:start
SO IT FORMS A SLICK,
ROPY LOOKING SURFACE.

19:39.334 --> 19:40.934 align:start
ANOTHER INTERESTING
THING THAT CAN HAPPEN

19:41.033 --> 19:44.400 align:start
IS LAVA CAN BE FLOWING DOWN
A FLOW AND THE SURFACE

19:44.501 --> 19:48.300 align:start
CAN CRUST OVER BUT THE INTERIOR
CAN CONTINUE TO FLOW ON THROUGH.

19:48.400 --> 19:50.234 align:start
AND WHEN IT FLOWS RIGHT
ON OUT THE BOTTOM END,

19:50.334 --> 19:52.834 align:start
YOU HAVE A HOLLOW TUBE
CALLED A LAVA TUBE.

19:52.934 --> 19:54.000 align:start
YOU MEAN IT JUST
EMPTIES RIGHT OUT?

19:54.100 --> 19:55.868 align:start
IT EMPTIES RIGHT OUT AND
YOU HAVE A CAVE IN THE LAVA.

19:55.968 --> 19:57.734 align:start
THOSE THINGS CAN BE
HUGE, BIG ENOUGH TO RUN

19:57.834 --> 19:59.501 align:start
RAILROAD CARS THROUGH OR THEY
CAN BE JUST SMALL ENOUGH

19:59.601 --> 20:05.701 align:start
TO CRAWL THROUGH LIKE MOST
OF THE ONES IN THIS LAVA FIELD.

20:05.801 --> 20:07.667 align:start
LAVA BUBBLES CAN FORM
WHERE THE SURFACE OF THE LAVA

20:07.767 --> 20:10.501 align:start
WHICH IS KIND OF TACKY CAN
JUST BE LIFTED UP BY A GAS,

20:10.601 --> 20:12.634 align:start
THE GAS PRESSURE INSIDE AND
THEN THE ROCK CAN HARDEN

20:12.734 --> 20:14.534 align:start
OVER THE TOP AND FORM A
BIG BUBBLE BIG ENOUGH

20:14.634 --> 20:17.067 align:start
TO JUST SIT ON LIKE
A LITTLE CUSHION.

20:17.167 --> 20:19.200 align:start
LAVA LEVEES ARE A
FEATURE THAT FORMS

20:19.300 --> 20:21.667 align:start
AT THE EDGES OF THESE LAVA
FLOWS.

20:21.767 --> 20:25.667 align:start
WHEN LAVA FLOWS
DOWN THE MOUNTAIN,

20:25.767 --> 20:27.634 align:start
THE EDGES OF THE LAVA
FLOW WOULD COOL FIRST.

20:27.734 --> 20:29.367 align:start
AND WHEN THEY COOL, THEY
HARDEN AND FORM A HARD KIND OF,

20:29.467 --> 20:33.000 align:start
KIND OF A WALL OF
ROCK DOWN BOTH SIDES

20:33.100 --> 20:34.868 align:start
JUST LIKE A REGULAR
LEVEE ON A RIVER.

20:34.968 --> 20:36.767 align:start
AND THEN WHEN THE LAVA
FLOW SINKS DOWN LATER,

20:36.868 --> 20:39.868 align:start
IT LEAVES THOSE HARD EDGES
STANDING UP AS A RIDGE

20:39.968 --> 20:46.801 align:start
THAT GOES DOWN EITHER SIDE
OF THE LAVA FLOW.

20:46.901 --> 20:48.834 align:start
THE LIGHT COLORED SAND FOUND
AROUND THE PINACATE HERE

20:48.934 --> 20:52.200 align:start
REALLY DOES CONTRAST WITH THE
DARK COLOR OF THE LAVA.

20:52.300 --> 20:53.167 align:start
IT CERTAINLY DOES.

20:53.267 --> 20:55.267 align:start
IT COMES FROM A COMPLETELY
DIFFERENT SOURCE.

20:55.367 --> 20:57.634 align:start
THE LAVA OF COURSE IF A
VERY FINE GRAINED ROCK

20:57.734 --> 21:00.067 align:start
THAT WE CALL BASALT AND
WHEN IT WEATHERS AWAY,

21:00.167 --> 21:03.834 align:start
THE GRAINS OF IT ARE SO TINY
THAT THEY DON'T TURN INTO SAND.

21:03.934 --> 21:05.834 align:start
THE SAND THAT'S FOUND
AROUND HERE ACTUALLY

21:05.934 --> 21:07.701 align:start
CAME DOWN THE COLORADO
RIVER AND WAS DUMPED

21:07.801 --> 21:10.834 align:start
ON THE GULF OF CALIFORNIA ON THE
BEACHES,

21:10.934 --> 21:12.534 align:start
AND IT CAME
ORIGINALLY FROM,

21:12.634 --> 21:14.667 align:start
MOSTLY FROM GRANITE ROCKS
THAT WERE FOUND UPSTREAM

21:14.767 --> 21:18.267 align:start
UP THE COLORADO RIVER ANYWHERE
IN THE REALLY VAST AREA

21:18.367 --> 21:21.934 align:start
THAT'S DRAINED BY THE COLORADO,
INCLUDING TUCSON, ARIZONA,

21:22.033 --> 21:23.934 align:start
AND INCLUDING
CLEAR UP IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS.

21:24.033 --> 21:24.968 align:start
WOW,
THAT CUT A LONG TRIP.

21:25.100 --> 21:26.267 align:start
YEAH, IT'S A LONG TRIP.

21:26.367 --> 21:29.634 align:start
AND ALONG THE WAY THE
RIVERS AND STREAMS BEAT UP

21:29.734 --> 21:31.534 align:start
ALL THE GRANITE AND THE OTHER
ROCKS AND

21:31.634 --> 21:35.200 align:start
ABOUT THE ONLY THING THAT LASTS
THROUGH ALL THIS IS THE QUARTZ.

21:35.300 --> 21:37.734 align:start
AND SO BY THE TIME GRAINS MAKE
IT DOWN TO A BEACH SOMEWHERE,

21:37.834 --> 21:40.501 align:start
THERE'S JUST
ABOUT NOTHING LEFT EXCEPT QUARTZ

21:40.601 --> 21:42.000 align:start
'CAUSE THAT'S
THE HARDEST MATERIAL.

21:42.100 --> 21:44.267 align:start
SO THE BEACH IS ALMOST
ENTIRELY MADE OUT OF QUARTZ

21:44.367 --> 21:45.734 align:start
DERIVED FROM
GRANITE MOUNTAINS WAY,

21:45.834 --> 21:53.567 align:start
WAY FAR FROM THE PINACATE
VOLCANIC FIELD.

21:53.667 --> 21:56.734 align:start
THE CRATERS FORMED BY THE
VOLCANO HERE ARE SPECTACULAR.

21:56.834 --> 21:58.334 align:start
NOW HOW DID THEY FORM?

21:58.434 --> 22:01.033 align:start
WELL, THEY'RE REALLY AMAZING
FEATURE IN THAT THESE ARE

22:01.133 --> 22:04.434 align:start
THE LARGEST CRATERS FORMED
ON THE NORTH AMERICAN CONTINENT.

22:04.534 --> 22:06.634 align:start
AND THESE ARE CALLED
HYDRO VOLCANIC FEATURES.

22:06.734 --> 22:09.767 align:start
WHAT YOU HAVE HERE IS A
SITUATION WHERE WATER,

22:09.868 --> 22:12.434 align:start
GROUND WATER PROBABLY THAT
WAS IN THE GROUND ANYWAY,

22:12.534 --> 22:15.868 align:start
PERCOLATED DOWN NEAR AN
ACTIVE MAGMA CHAMBER

22:15.968 --> 22:18.701 align:start
WHERE THE MOLTEN ROCK WAS AT
SOME DEPTH IN THE GROUND.

22:18.801 --> 22:21.000 align:start
AND THEN THAT WATER WOULD FLASH
INTO STEAM LIKE

22:21.100 --> 22:24.467 align:start
A BOILER EXPLOSION AND JUST BLOW
THE TOP RIGHT OUT OF THE LAND.

22:24.567 --> 22:27.234 align:start
AND YOU'LL GET THESE
CRATERS THAT ARE A MILE ACROSS

22:27.334 --> 22:29.534 align:start
AND FIVE HUNDRED TO
EIGHT HUNDRED FEET DEEP,

22:29.634 --> 22:31.467 align:start
JUST AS EXPLOSION CRATERS.

22:31.567 --> 22:34.968 align:start
THE DEBRIS JUST GOES UP
INTO THE AIR AND FALLS OUT

22:35.067 --> 22:37.567 align:start
AS AN EJECTED BLANKET,
THEY CALL IT,

22:37.667 --> 22:41.601 align:start
THAT GOES FOR MILES OUT FROM
THE CRATER IN ALL DIRECTIONS.

22:41.701 --> 22:44.734 align:start
ANOTHER NOTICEABLE FEATURE
OF THESE BIG CRATERS,

22:44.834 --> 22:46.734 align:start
WHICH ARE CALLED
MAAR CRATERS,

22:46.834 --> 22:50.601 align:start
IS THAT THEY HAVE THIS
LITTLE PILE OF DEBRIS

22:50.701 --> 22:52.634 align:start
ALL THE WAY AROUND THE
RING ON THE TOP.

22:52.734 --> 22:54.234 align:start
AND THIS IS CALLED
A TOUGH RING.

22:54.334 --> 22:56.968 align:start
AND ON SOME CRATERS IT'S
BIG AND SOME IT'S VERY SMALL.

22:57.067 --> 23:00.267 align:start
USUALLY IT'S KIND OF
YELLOW AND A SLOPING MOUND

23:00.367 --> 23:01.501 align:start
ALL THE WAY AROUND.

23:01.601 --> 23:03.767 align:start
AND THIS IS THE LITTLE BIT
OF VOLCANIC MATERIAL

23:03.868 --> 23:06.200 align:start
THAT WAS EJECTED OUT OF THIS
CRATER AT THE SAME TIME

23:06.300 --> 23:12.000 align:start
THAT THE EXPLOSION
OCCURRED.

23:12.100 --> 23:13.934 align:start
THE PINACATE HAS HAS VOLCANO
WRITTEN ALL OVER IT.

23:14.033 --> 23:15.133 align:start
IT CERTAINLY DOES. THERE'S JUST
ABOUT

23:15.234 --> 23:16.868 align:start
EVERYTHING VOLCANIC HERE
THAT YOU CAN IMAGINE.

23:16.968 --> 23:20.133 align:start
WE'VE GOT LAVA
FLOWS, CINDER CONES,

23:20.234 --> 23:22.300 align:start
ABOUT FOUR HUNDRED OF 'EM.

23:22.400 --> 23:23.934 align:start
WE'VE GOT A GREAT BIG
CENTRAL MOUNTAIN AND WE'VE GOT

23:24.033 --> 23:27.300 align:start
THE BIGGEST EXPLOSION CRATERS ON
THE NORTH AMERICAN CONTINENT,

23:27.400 --> 23:28.934 align:start
THINGS AS BIG AS
A METEOR CRATER,

23:29.033 --> 23:30.934 align:start
A MILE ACROSS AND HUNDREDS
OF FEET DEEP.

23:31.033 --> 23:33.634 align:start
WOW. HOW OLD ARE
THESE VOLCANOES?

23:33.734 --> 23:36.767 align:start
WELL, THEY COME IN
MANY DIFFERENT AGES.

23:36.868 --> 23:39.868 align:start
THE OLDEST ONE IS REALLY
YOUNG BY GEOLOGICAL STANDARDS

23:39.968 --> 23:41.901 align:start
BUT OLD BY HUMAN
STANDARDS.

23:42.000 --> 23:43.801 align:start
THE BIG VOLCANO IN THE
CENTER IS PROBABLY

23:43.901 --> 23:45.868 align:start
ABOUT THREE MILLION YEARS OLD.

23:45.968 --> 23:47.667 align:start
THE BIG EXPLOSION CRATERS
ARE PROBABLY

23:47.767 --> 23:51.467 align:start
MORE LIKE A HUNDRED THOUSAND
OR SO YEARS OLD.

23:51.567 --> 23:53.567 align:start
AND ALL OF THE CINDER
CONES THAT ARE DOTTED ALL AROUND

23:53.667 --> 23:55.634 align:start
STARTED PROBABLY A
MILLION YEARS AGO

23:55.734 --> 24:01.033 align:start
AND LEAD RIGHT UP
TO THE PRESENT.

24:01.133 --> 24:04.167 align:start
IT'S PROBABLY THE VOLCANOES
THAT CONTRIBUTE MOST

24:04.267 --> 24:07.868 align:start
TO THE EXOTIC ASPECT OF
THIS PART OF THE DESERT.

24:07.968 --> 24:10.534 align:start
IN ANY CASE, THERE'S
NOTHING LIKE IT ANYWHERE.

24:10.634 --> 24:13.634 align:start
AND THAT ASPECT HAS SET A
NUMBER OF FORCES IN MOTION

24:13.734 --> 24:18.667 align:start
TO SEE THAT IT STAYS
EXOTIC.

24:18.767 --> 24:20.367 align:start
THE CENTRO ECOLOGICO DE SONORA,

24:20.467 --> 24:22.400 align:start
OUR SISTER INSTITUTION IN
HERMOSILLO,

24:22.501 --> 24:24.934 align:start
HAS WRITTEN AN ACTION PLAN
TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT,

24:25.033 --> 24:26.868 align:start
OR TO THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF MEXICO,

24:26.968 --> 24:29.100 align:start
REQUESTING THAT THE PINACATE

24:29.200 --> 24:32.601 align:start
BE DECREED AS A MILLION ACRE
BIOSPHERE RESERVE.

24:32.701 --> 24:35.734 align:start
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY HAS
AGREED TO BACK CENTRO ECOLOGICO

24:35.834 --> 24:38.334 align:start
WITH FUNDING,
WITH TRAINING,

24:38.434 --> 24:41.400 align:start
WITH ANYTHING THEY NEED
TO PROTECT THAT REGION.

24:41.501 --> 24:44.267 align:start
IT'S ONE OF THE MOST
DRAMATIC LANDSCAPES

24:44.367 --> 24:46.734 align:start
IN NORTH AMERICA, I THINK.

24:46.834 --> 24:49.667 align:start
IT'S ALSO ONE OF THE
LEAST IMPACTED LANDSCAPES

24:49.767 --> 24:51.200 align:start
IN NORTH AMERICA.

24:51.300 --> 24:54.067 align:start
THERE HASN'T BEEN VERY, THERE
HASN'T BEEN MUCH IN THE WAY

24:54.167 --> 24:56.133 align:start
OF DEVELOPMENT, THERE'S
BEEN VERY LITTLE GRAZING.

24:56.234 --> 24:59.200 align:start
AND THE AREA THAT THE CENTRO
WANTS TO PRESERVE IS HUGE;

24:59.300 --> 25:01.200 align:start
IT'S OVER
A MILLION ACRES.

25:01.300 --> 25:06.501 align:start
THEY'LL BE PROTECTING BOTH
BIOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL SITES

25:06.601 --> 25:09.934 align:start
WITHIN THE PINACATE.

25:10.033 --> 25:13.133 align:start
I LOVE THE CONTRAST OF
THE RED CINDER CONES,

25:13.234 --> 25:16.701 align:start
THE BLACK LAVA, AND
THE WHITE SAND DUNES.

25:16.801 --> 25:19.033 align:start
AND THEN WITHIN THE SAND
DUNES THERE'S A WHOLE SUITE

25:19.133 --> 25:20.567 align:start
OF RARE PLANTS SPECIES.

25:20.667 --> 25:25.667 align:start
AND IT'S JUST MOVING
FROM ONE HABITAT

25:25.767 --> 25:26.501 align:start
TO ANOTHER IS REALLY EXCITING.

25:26.601 --> 25:30.067 align:start
DEFINITELY WORTH
PROTECTING.

25:30.167 --> 25:32.467 align:start
[SPEAKING SPANISH]

25:32.567 --> 25:36.701 align:start
EL PINACATE AND
THE DEATH VALLEY REGION

25:36.801 --> 25:43.534 align:start
ARE TWO OF THE DRIEST
PLACES IN NORTH AMERICA.

25:43.634 --> 25:45.300 align:start
IN SPITE OF THE
DRY CLIMATE,

25:45.400 --> 25:49.701 align:start
THESE REGIONS HAVE A GREAT
BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY.

25:49.801 --> 25:51.801 align:start
THE CONDITIONS FOUND IN
THESE DESERT LANDS

25:51.901 --> 25:56.300 align:start
HAVEN'T BEEN DISTURBED
TOO MUCH BY MEN.

25:56.400 --> 26:01.100 align:start
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ONE
OF THE MOST PRISTINE PLACES

26:01.200 --> 26:04.601 align:start
IN THE WHOLE
STATE OF SONORA.

26:04.701 --> 26:06.901 align:start
AND IF WE MAINTAIN THIS
SENSIBILITY WITH THE PEOPLE

26:07.000 --> 26:08.834 align:start
THAT VISIT THE AREA,

26:08.934 --> 26:12.934 align:start
I THINK EL PINACATE HAS A
FUTURE.

26:13.033 --> 26:14.901 align:start
I'M TOLD THAT THE
ERUPTIONS THAT CREATED

26:15.000 --> 26:17.634 align:start
ALL THESE CRATERS AND CINDER
CONES OUT HERE

26:17.734 --> 26:20.501 align:start
OCCUR EVERY THREE THOUSANDS
YEARS OR SO.

26:20.601 --> 26:21.868 align:start
NOW IF THAT'S CORRECT,

26:21.968 --> 26:25.033 align:start
IT'S PROBABLY TIME FOR US
TO RUN ALONG.

26:25.133 --> 26:26.701 align:start
WELL, WE SURE HAVE
ENJOYED YOUR COMPANY

26:26.801 --> 26:28.200 align:start
IN THIS OUT OF THE WAY PLACE.

26:28.300 --> 26:32.501 align:start
THANK YOU, AND JOIN US
AGAIN FOR THE DESERT SPEAKS .

26:32.601 --> 27:29.334 align:start
[MUSIC]

27:29.434 --> 27:31.100 align:start
MAJOR
FUNDING FOR THE DESERT SPEAKS

27:31.200 --> 27:33.801 align:start
HAS BEEN
PROVIDED BY ASARCO, INC.,

27:33.901 --> 27:36.300 align:start
AN INTEGRATED PRODUCER
OF NONFERROUS METALS

27:36.400 --> 27:38.801 align:start
AND OTHER INDUSTRIAL
MINERALS AND PRODUCTS.

27:38.901 --> 27:43.033 align:start
ASARCO, INC., ADDING VALUE
TO NATURE'S RESOURCES.