Top of Devil’s Postpile

Devil’s Postpile Front

Throughout history, philosophers, mathematicians, and scientists of all kinds have studied the different kinds of patterns seen in nature. We seek ways to order our universe and explain our existence. From the logarithmic spiral of a Nautilus shell to the sixfold symmetry of a snowflake to those crazy fractal ferns, we are constantly surrounded by the amazing patterns of nature. Pictured, above, Devil’s Postpile is an awesome example of just such natural patterns, this time in the form of giant, hexagonal columns.

Devil’s Postpile National Monument is located near Mammoth Lakes, California. It is a formation of columnar basalt, created when basalt lava from a volcano cooled, contracted and cracked.  Since it cooled very slowly, and was very uniform in composition, long, mostly hexagonal columns were formed.  Much later, a glacier flowed down part of the San Joaquin River and over the lava, exposing a wall of these columns.  Hiking to the top of the post-pile reveals what looks like tiled flooring, with polishing done by the glacier.  It’s truly amazing to learn that this pattern was created in and by nature! While rare, this isn’t the only place this has occurred. Similar formations are found throughout the world!  In fact, the hexagon itself is nature’s perfect space saver. Besides being found in rare formations of basalt columns, they can be seen in the honeycomb in beehives, on turtle shells and in some organic compounds.

Check out our earlier post on this beautiful area of the country.

Click here for others’ interpretations of this week’s Photo Challenge, “Pattern.”