Catch a Wave


Long ago, magma pushed up from inside Earth in Australia. It collected in a pool under the ground. T en the magma cooled into a giant slab of rock called granite. At first, this rock was buried. Yet


even under the ground, it began to weather. Water seeped through the soil. Acids and salts in the water ate away at the rock. T ey weakened parts of the granite mound. On the surface, a river formed. T e


water dug into the land. It picked up and carried away dirt and rock.


Bit by bit, this erosion uncovered


the granite. As more and more land was carried away, the rock seemed to grow taller. Minerals in the water streaked it red and gray. Today it looks like a giant stone wave. Weathering and erosion are


powerful forces. T ey destroy landforms. T ey build new ones. Giant steps, colorful hills, cotton castles, and stone waves are just a few. T ese two forces keep changing the land. T ey create some of the weirdest places on Earth.


WORDWISE


erosion: the process in which rock is moved from one place to another


valley: a low area of Earth’s surface, usually between hills or mountains


weathering: the process in which rocks are broken into smaller pieces


15


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24