Niland Geyser

Niland Geyser
Mud pot
Niland Geyser in 2019
Niland Geyser in 2019
Niland Geyser is located in California
Niland Geyser
Location in California
Coordinates: 33°17′06″N 115°34′37″W / 33.284992°N 115.576916°W / 33.284992; -115.576916
LocationImperial County, California
Elevation−58 m (−190 ft)
[1]

Niland Geyser (nicknamed the "Slow One"[2] and formally designated W9)[3] is a moving mud pot or mud spring outside Niland, California in the Salton Trough in an area of geological instability due to the San Andreas Fault,[4] formed due to carbon dioxide being released underground. It is the only mud pot or mud volcano known to have moved so significantly.[5][2] The geyser has required costly engineering works since 2018 as it has impinged on the Union Pacific Railroad, California State Route 111, and other infrastructure.

  1. ^ National Elevation Dataset via gpsvisualizer.com
  2. ^ a b Reyes-Velarde, Alejandra; Lin II, Rong-Gong (November 1, 2018). "A San Andreas fault mystery: The 'slow-moving disaster' in an area where the Big One is feared". Los Angeles Times.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference hgs was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Deane, R. Travis; Lynch, David K. "A Moving Mud Spring Threatening Critical Infrastructure, Imperial County, California". Geo-Congress 2020. ASCE.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference natgeo was invoked but never defined (see the help page).