The word "period" was first used on television to refer to menstruation in a 1985 Tampax commercial. The line, โFeeling cleaner is more comfortable. It can actually change the way you feel about your period,โ made history. ๐ The actor delivering this groundbreaking line? None other than Courtney Cox, who would later rise to fame on Friends! ๐๐ฅ factfactsfun facthistoryentertainment
Imagine 2.5 billion T. rex dinosaurs walking on Earth pretty mind blowing, right? ๐คฏ But hereโs the twist: Not all at the same time! According to a study from the University of California, Berkeley, scientists estimate that over 127,000 generations, these prehistoric giants thrived in different periods. ๐งฌ They figured this out by calculating the T. rex's body size, energy needs, and sexual maturity, helping them estimate how many of these fierce creatures existed throughout history. ๐ฌ With their massive size and hunting prowess, these dinos were once a dominant force on Earth! ๐ฟ factsfun factscienceanimals
Formation and History of Lake Corcoran
๐ What It Was: Lake Corcoran existed approximately 600,000 to 700,000 years ago during the Pleistocene Epoch. It covered a vast area in what is now California's Central Valley, stretching from present-day Bakersfield to the Sacramento area.
Why Did It Disappear?
Geological Shifts
โฐ๏ธ Change in Water Flow: Lake Corcoran was primarily fed by rivers draining the Sierra Nevada mountains. Initially, its waters flowed west into the Pacific Ocean through the Monterey Bay area.
๐ Breakthrough to the Pacific: Over time, the lake's water eroded a natural dam in the area near what is now the Carquinez Strait. This catastrophic breakthrough caused massive drainage, redirecting the water into San Francisco Bay and effectively draining the lake.
Tectonic Activity
๐ Movement of Earth's Crust: The Central Valley's geology is heavily influenced by tectonic activity, including the uplift of the coastal ranges and the subsidence of the valley floor. These changes gradually shifted water flow patterns, preventing the lake from reforming.
Climatic Changes
โ๏ธ End of Glacial Periods: The lake existed during glacial periods when cooler temperatures led to higher water levels from snowmelt. As the climate warmed, reduced water inflow and evaporation accelerated the lake's disappearance.
What Remains Today?
๐๏ธ Modern Central Valley: The fertile soils of California's Central Valley, one of the world's most productive agricultural regions, are partly a result of sediments deposited by Lake Corcoran.
๐ Tulare Lake: Smaller remnants of Lake Corcoran, such as Tulare Lake, persisted for thousands of years before being drained by human intervention in the 19th century.
Legacy
๐งฌ Impact on Evolution: Lake Corcoran's disappearance transformed the landscape, impacting ecosystems and species in the region. It played a role in shaping California's unique biodiversity.
๐ก Geological Insight: The study of Lake Corcoran provides valuable insight into the dynamic relationship between climate, tectonics, and water systems over geological timescales.
๐ The Big Picture: Lake Corcoran's story is a powerful reminder of how Earth's landscapes can undergo dramatic transformations due to natural forces. Its disappearance helped shape the region we know today. ๐โจ factsfun factsciencegeographyhistory