Southern California has many faults, some hidden, some very obvious. One of the more fun aspects of geology is to see where the land moves. To witness the power of what Earth can do can be quite awe inspiring. Some features are easily recognizable, such as the San Gabriel Mountains which have somewhat rapidly risen …
Near the southern end of the Salton Sea in the Imperial Valley, you can find some very interesting geological features. Mud volcanoes, slowly “erupting” a fine muddy ooze, are some of the evidence of the extreme heat not far below the surface here. Gases, usually carbon dioxide, also emanate from the ground here. These mud volcanoes are more active in winter and spring, when groundwater is a little higher and the surface temperatures are a bit lower. I highly recommend a visit sometime.
There appears to be the beginnings of a small swarm of earthquakes in the Brawley Seismic Zone, this time in the town of Brawley, California. The USGS has a great website on swarms and why they occur.
http://www.scsn.org/index.php/earthquakes/earthquake-swarms/index.html
Southern California Regional Rocks and Roads
Exploring the highways, geology, history and landscapes of Southern California.