EL NIÑO'S POWERFUL REACH   What is
El Niño?		 Clues From
the Past		 Long Distance
Connections		 Winners &
Losers		 El Niño
Lowdown

Left 1 2 3 4 5 6 Clues From Rocks Right

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This thick layer of rocks was probably deposited during an El Niño-induced flood. Click to view full image.


Geologists examine rock outcrops in northern Peru for records of prehistoric El Niños. The thick layer of rocks here is evidence of a large flood. From outcrops like this one, geologists have identified at least 35 El Niño floods over the past 40,000 years. Only the largest floods, however, leave a long-term record. Geologists examine rock outcrops in northern Peru.