One of my favorite areas for photography is The Palouse, a region of eastern Washington State bordering on Idaho approximately 3000 square miles in size. It is a major agricultural area, primarily producing wheat and legumes. Very rich soil called Loess accumulated between 15,000 years ago looks like green sand dunes and makes for very sinuous shapes.
Above –In the distance Steptoe Butte a 400 million year old Quartzite rock that is part of the underlying bedrock. Over that bedrock a 2 mile thick layer of Basalt- then on top of that a 200 foot deep layer of wind blown “Loess” rich in minerals and productive to farming.
Below Kamiak Butte one of two buttes of ancient quartz in a sea of Loess.
Looking down from Steptoe Butte one sees the remains of the Ice Age.
The rolling hills are actually massive piles of wind blown silty Loess created when glaciers pulverized rock into fine powder.
There are many charming small towns and farmsteads in the area which is hardly visited by tourism.
MORE PALOUSE HERE.