This interesting fan palm paradise is situated exactly over the famed San Andreas fault-line. The fault forces underground spring waters up to the surface and for over 1000 years, native Indian tribes have come to the oasis for water, food and hunting. Homesteaded in 1900 by Albert Thornburg, the oasis was traded to Paul Wilhelm in 1905 for two mules and a fancy wagon, it has been a public park since 1984. Temps during the summer can reach 115 degrees f so this is a cool retreat for animal life. Many rare and listed species use these habitats. Protected southern yellow bats (Lasiurus ega) flit and twitter in the rare desert palm oases. Endangered Swainson’s hawks (Buteo swainsonii) soar over the valley floor as they migrate between their breeding and wintering territories. Rosy boas (Lichanura trivirgata) slither between the California fan palm shadows, and the endangered desert pupfish (Cyprinodon macularius) finds refuge in the desert seeps. Located near Palm Springs, this is an interesting place to visit.

[Bruce Clark]

An interesting spot and thanks for the brief history

[Bob Harris]

An interesting spot and thanks for the brief history

thank you for looking Bruce, glad you enjoyed it. Bob

[Cee Cee]

interesting place indeed, does anything else like this happen along the fault line or just at this place, I could imagine a weary traveler would be pretty happy to stumble upon this in days gone bye.

cheers

[dcmsox2004]

fine series bob.... i just hope some day the wife and i can explore our beautiful country like you've been doing... thanks for this tour.. dave m

[Sailor]

So that's what an Oasis looks like (I thought it was a bar on South 10th Street in Mt. Vernon, IL). Thanks for posting but I'm not grateful for being reminded of the dreadful pop song which can act as insidious ear virus .

Jer

[tpg2]

Nice series Bob! Never seen an oasis other than on TV...did you get to explore inside the palms? Tom

[Bob Harris]

So that's what an Oasis looks like (I thought it was a bar on South 10th Street in Mt. Vernon, IL). Thanks for posting but I'm not grateful for being reminded of the dreadful pop song which can act as insidious ear virus .

Jer

Sorry about that buddy, I was wondering if someone would catch the title, sorry about "Midnight" reference. I just had to do it.

[RoxnDox]

Sorry about that buddy, I was wondering if someone would catch the title, sorry about "Midnight" reference. I just had to do it.

My first thought was "Put your camel to bed"...

Jim

[Sailor]

Sorry about that buddy, I was wondering if someone would catch the title, sorry about "Midnight" reference. I just had to do it.

Great photos, Bob - but I've had to mumble "Riders on the Storm" to myself all day to get "Midnight . . . ." out of my head .

Jer

[Bob Harris]

My first thought was "Put your camel to bed"...

Jim

Great photos, Bob - but I've had to mumble "Riders on the Storm" to myself all day to get "Midnight . . . ." out of my head .

Jer

Thanks to both of you for taking a look, maybe if we just read the lyrics, the song will go away. Better yet, just turn on a Door's album, that would do it too.

Midnight at the oasis
Send your camel to bed
Shadows paintin' our faces
Traces of romance in our heads

Heaven's holdin' a half-moon
Shinin' just for us
Let's slip off to a sand dune, real soon
And kick up a little dust

Come on, Cactus is our friend
He'll point out the way
Come on, 'til the evenin' ends
'Til the evenin' ends

You don't have to answer
There's no need to speak
I'll be your belly dancer, prancer
And you can be my sheik

[Bob Harris]

interesting place indeed, does anything else like this happen along the fault line or just at this place, I could imagine a weary traveler would be pretty happy to stumble upon this in days gone bye.

cheers

CC, there are several other Palm oasis' in the area along with a lot of natural hot springs. Interesting geological area to explore. This is the largest one and is called the Coachella Valley Preserve.

[Cee Cee]

Great photos, Bob - but I've had to mumble "Riders on the Storm" to myself all day to get "Midnight . . . ." out of my head .

Jer

+1 Jer, ... I've had some Deep Purple cranked up in the workshop most of the day,... but as soon as it stops....

[Bob Harris]

Nice series Bob! Never seen an oasis other than on TV...did you get to explore inside the palms? Tom

Tom, thanks so much for looking, glad you liked the series. Here are a couple of photos showing the water and palms within the grove. Sort of hard to view. You have got to come out west one of these days. Bob

[captainbert]

What an amazing location Bob and beautifully captured at that. Very interesting to read the enclosed info... wow that is some serious temps in the summer! Here tis properly Baltic brrrrr. Great stuff my friend!