The Economic Times

In 1923, a geologist said a sudden, catastrophic Ice Age flood carved Washington's landscape. Scientists rejected him for decades. At 96, he received geology's highest honor

J. Harlen Bretz, a pioneering geologist, introduced a groundbreaking theory about the Ice Age floods sculpting eastern Washington's terrain. Initially met with fierce criticism due to questions surrounding the water's origin, significant research surrounding Glacial Lake Missoula ultimately illuminated the evidence for these monumental floods. Enhanced satellite imagery further validated the sheer size and intricate layout of the resulting channels.