Nojoqui Falls
Encyclopedia
Nojoqui Falls is a seasonal waterfall
in the Santa Barbara County, California
park of the same name.
and magnesium carbonate
from rocks above the falls continually dissolve in the stream water, then are deposited as this water evaporates from the rock around the falls. Stalactites in a cave grow in the same slow manner, and are made of the same type of rock, called travertine
. Grooves in the main travertine deposit and a gently curved notch at the base of the falls have formed where the rock has dissolved once again into the stream."
and about 7 miles southwest of the city of Solvang
via Alisal Road.
The falls are at the end of a short trail south of the parking lot.
Waterfall
A waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...
in the Santa Barbara County, California
Santa Barbara County, California
Santa Barbara County is a county located in the southern portion of the U.S. state of California, on the Pacific coast. As of 2010 the county had a population of 423,895. The county seat is Santa Barbara and the largest city is Santa Maria.-History:...
park of the same name.
Description
From the sign posted near the falls: "Unlike most waterfalls, which gradually erode upstream, the Nojoqui Falls have built outward from the cliff over time. CalciumCalcium
Calcium is the chemical element with the symbol Ca and atomic number 20. It has an atomic mass of 40.078 amu. Calcium is a soft gray alkaline earth metal, and is the fifth-most-abundant element by mass in the Earth's crust...
and magnesium carbonate
Magnesium carbonate
Magnesium carbonate, MgCO3, is a white solid that occurs in nature as a mineral. Several hydrated and basic forms of magnesium carbonate also exist as minerals...
from rocks above the falls continually dissolve in the stream water, then are deposited as this water evaporates from the rock around the falls. Stalactites in a cave grow in the same slow manner, and are made of the same type of rock, called travertine
Travertine
Travertine is a form of limestone deposited by mineral springs, especially hot springs. Travertine often has a fibrous or concentric appearance and exists in white, tan, and cream-colored varieties. It is formed by a process of rapid precipitation of calcium carbonate, often at the mouth of a hot...
. Grooves in the main travertine deposit and a gently curved notch at the base of the falls have formed where the rock has dissolved once again into the stream."
Location
The falls are located one and a half miles east of highway 101 approximately five miles south of BuelltonBuellton, California
Buellton is a small city in Santa Barbara County, California, United States. The city of Buellton is one of the communities that make up the Santa Ynez Valley...
and about 7 miles southwest of the city of Solvang
Solvang, California
Solvang is a city in Santa Barbara County, California, United States. It is one of the communities that make up the Santa Ynez Valley. The population was 5,245 at the 2010 census, down from 5,332 at the 2000 census...
via Alisal Road.
The falls are at the end of a short trail south of the parking lot.
External Links
- Santa Barbara County Parks Department: Nojoqui Falls Park
- World Of Waterfalls: Nojoqui Falls
- Local Hikes: Nojoqui Falls County Park
- Central Coast Tourist: Nojoqui Falls
- Google Maps: Nojoqui Falls