[EXPLAINED: railroad land grants] Ground texture looks odd

[chik]

Hello all

Just reporting a ground texture that looks odd. They seem to be placed like a patchwork quilt and don't blend well

[Holger Sandmann]

Hi there,

I was wondering how long it would take for people to stumble across these 

You're not providing specific coordinates but there are a number of striking checkerboard patterns like these in the Northern Rockies coverage area. Have a look at Google Maps: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Spokane,+WA,+United+States&sll=62.970205,-137.164307&sspn=4.411334,16.732178&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Spokane,+Washington&ll=48.411086,-116.815395&spn=0.100614,0.26144&t=h&z=13

Then Google "Railroad Land Grants" to read up on the fascinating history of these features, like this one: http://www.coxrail.com/land-grants.htm

During early and late winter the contrast between snow in the cutblocks and little or no snow in the forests is particularly strong. Just this morning I noticed the white cutblocks in the mountains west of Duncan, almost 30 miles as the crow flies from where I was standing at CYYJ. In the summer I'd need binoculars to spot them.

Cheers, Holger

[hughp]

Thanks for the link. I wish history like this was taught at schools - fascinating indeed

[chik]

Agreed........sorry for the long "thank you" Holger!

[Taph]

Thanks Holger, its the extra information that brings the scenery to life

Taph

[Rob Abernathy]

My thanks as well Holger. Fascinating! It's much the same here in N. Calif.