Southern Oregon is home to some of the finest examples of fault block mountains in North America. Albert Rim, Hart Mountain, and Steens Mountain and many smaller fault created mountains are classic examples of these massive structures.

Albert Rim is located north of Lakeview, Oregon near highway US 395. A massive, vertical scarp is easily seen from 395. The steep face is typical of fault block mountains and is the upward tilted side of the mountain.

Moving eastward, the next major fault block is Hart Mountain. I don't have any photos of this mountain, but it also has a steep, westward facing scarp like Albert Rim. It is also home of the Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge. For more information on the refuge go to the refuge's home page.

Continuing eastward, the next fault block mountain is the grand-daddy of the fault block mountains -- Steens Mountain. The scarp face on Steens is enormous, rising nearly 6,000 feet from the Alvord Desert at its base!

The first photo of Steens shows the gently sloping back-side (downward tilting) of Steens mountain. The scarp that towers over the Alvord Desert presents a radically different view. A nearly vertical drop to the desert below!

The photograph of Steens Butte highlights a geologic feature of the Steens area, frequent basalt flows. Notice the columns of basalt capping Steens Butte. The block of rock that is now Steens Mountain was covered by several layers of molten rock. These layers of rock have risen nearly 6,000 feet from their origin. Talk about power!