Because of its high altitude, numerous volcanoes, and the hundreds of miles to the nearest beach, one might think that Flagstaff has little connection with the sea. Yet the foundation of Flagstaff and much of the Coconino National Forest lies on rocks that were deposited in a warm tropical sea. Just imagine the turquoise water lapping the shores of Route 66! Cue the sunscreen, beach umbrellas and cold Corona beer!
You see, our small corner of the world holds a tremendous thickness of sedimentary rocks that contain evidence for the many past environments that have existed here. That red sandstone that makes up the county courthouse and Old Main on the campus of NAU? All deposited along ancient sluggish rivers. And almost inconspicuous to most of us, a light-colored limestone abounds with evidence of its birth in a shallow sea.
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