Devonian Fossil Gorge

This is a 360 video of the Devonian Fossil Gorge in Iowa City, Iowa. ¹The Devonian Fossil Gorge was first exposed during the Floods of 1993 at Coralville Lake, then was exposed even more during the Floods of 2008. The fossils and limestone bedrock of the Devonian Fossil Gorge date back almost 200 million years before the dinosaurs!

Let’s take a closer look at the Devonian Fossil Gorge. This 360 is made from one image. We will navigate this image by clicking on the right arrow which will move our view a quarter turn each time we click it.

00:00 - 02:22

1. We are standing in part of the Devonian Fossil Gorge on a slight incline like a small hill. Right in front of use is a small area of light and dark green moss with brown plants coming out of the mossy area. Ahead of us are rock outcroppings like long steps. In the distance we can see rocks piled up like a stone wall in England.
2. Clicks 1- 4. It is clearer that we are standing beside a pond in the gorge. The pond is covered in light and dark green algae. The sun is in front of us. Its rays sparkle off the water like it is a sheet of glass. The English rock wall continues on our left and a green hill can be seen in the distance on our right. Clumps of trees grow on the green hill to our right. The surface in front of us is covered in a layer of mud that has creases and cracks in it creating a textured, bumpy look.
3. Clicks 5-8. The hill with the clumps of trees is now in front of us in the distance. There is a path of mud that breaks up the body of water where we are standing. In the distance, below the hill is an open muddy area that looks like a great place for a campfire. There are benches made out of the gorge rocks with an open area just below the hill and trees away from the body of water.
4. Clicks 9-14. The clump of trees and hillside is to our left. In front of us is a low rock dam that blocks the body of water from moving beyond this point. In the distance we can see three explorers walking this area of the gorge.
5. Clicks 15-19. We are back where we started. Right in front of us is a small area of light and dark green moss with brown plants coming from the mossy area. Ahead of us is our English rock wall.

¹ “Devonian Fossil Gorge.” US Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, https://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/Coralville-Lake/Recreation/Devonian-Fossil-Gorge/. 2023 Mar. 20.