Marine Terraces at Trinidad Head, California

Provided by: Andrew Miner, Central Washington University
Summary authors & editors: Andrew Miner

The photo above shows uplifted marine terraces (late Quaternary); this view looking toward the northeast from Trinidad Head, California. Terraces define one limb of a broad anticline related to transpression (the simultaneous occurrence of strike-slip faulting and compression of the Earth's crust), near the northern end of the San Andreas fault system. Note both modern and ancient sea-stacks (modern at left in the middle distance and ancient at left-center in the far distance).

Related Links:

• Cen. Wash. U. - Dept. of Geol. Studies
• San Andreas Fault
• Glossary of Geologic Terms
• More Terms
• Transpression
• This Dynamic Earth: U.S.G.S.