Fourth Grade
Worksheets
Devils Postpile National Monument
Devils* Postpile is in California. It used to be part of Yosemite National Park. In 1911, it became its own national monument. It is called Devils Postpile National Monument. The Postpile area is unique. It looks like many fence posts lined up together. That is how this area got its name. However, the posts are made of basalt. There is a beautiful waterfall. It is called Rainbow Falls. It is 2 miles away from the Postpile formation. Its name comes from the rainbows that appear in the mist of the falls.
The Postpiles are made from basalt. This is a type of rock that forms from a volcano. It forms from lava that cools quickly. As the lava cools, it shrinks. This makes it crack. When the cracks form vertically, the rocks look like columns. They are 60 feet high. They have unusual symmetry.
Devils Postpile is in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Its annual snowfall total is 400 inches! Many people go to the Sierra Nevadas to ski and snowshoe. Because of the extreme weather, the park closes during the winter. You can hike there. There are three national parks in the area. Anglers can fish in the San Joaquin River and nearby lakes and streams. There are lots of ways to enjoy nature.
