Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Chefs Aruss Lerlerstkull and Atcharaporn Kiatthanawat lean into regional traditions.
Charmgang
The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.
Gedhawa
At Nai Mong Hoi Thod, the oyster omelet is worth waiting for.
Nai Mong Hoi Thod
In this deceptively simple dish, top-quality ingredients are paramount.
Kor Panich
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
3 days ago
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
3 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
4 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
6 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Washington, D.C. Overthrust Fault

Overthrust Fault

A surprising, but overlooked example of geology in the middle of the nation’s capital.

Washington, D.C.

Added By
Bryan Woerner
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Overthrust Fault   bryanwoerner / Atlas Obscura User
Overthrust Fault   bryanwoerner / Atlas Obscura User
Overthrust Fault   bryanwoerner / Atlas Obscura User
A plaque explaining the fault.   bryanwoerner / Atlas Obscura User
A US Geological Survey photo taken 1925 showing the fault more clearly.   US Geological Survey/Public Domain
  jsbarclay / Atlas Obscura User
On 1-2-21   BrittanyZ / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

This Place Is a Stub

Help improve this place with additional information or photos.

Make an Edit

About

Located near the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., is a fenced-in area that looks like nothing more than a giant pile of dirt and rocks. However, it's much more than that, it's actually an amazing example of an overthrust fault. This type of fault occurs when the upper side of the fault is pushed up through constant compression. There are actually several various examples of overthrust faults found around the nation's capital.

The layers of rock represent the Piedmont region and the Atlantic Coastal Plain. Geologists were surprised to discover these faults as it was believed that the region wasn't a geological hotspot. Geologist N.H. Darton first discovered the overthrust during the 1920s and had the fault enclosed and protected from the elements. However, erosion still weathered down the fault making it difficult to view today.

Related Tags

Geology Geological Oddities Zoos Animals

Know Before You Go

The fault is easily accessible, not far from the Columbia Heights Metro or the Harvard St entrance to the National Zoo, at the intersection of Adams Mill Rd NW and Clydesdale Place NW.

Community Contributors

Added By

bryanwoerner

Edited By

BrittanyZ, jsbarclay

  • BrittanyZ
  • jsbarclay

Published

August 23, 2019

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://web.archive.org/web/20090730020932/https://nationalzoo.si.edu/AboutUs/History/beneathitall.cfm
  • https://www.thefreedictionary.com/overthrust+fault
  • https://dcist.com/story/19/07/17/whats-the-deal-with-this-mysterious-stone-structure-around-a-mount-of-dirt-in-adams-morgan/
Overthrust Fault
360 Clydesdale Pl NW
Washington, District of Columbia, 20009
United States
38.92515, -77.044605
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Holt House

Washington, D.C.

miles away

D.C.’s Floating Chandeliers

Washington, D.C.

miles away

Marilyn Monroe Mural

Washington, D.C.

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C.

United States

Places 285
Stories 49

Nearby Places

Holt House

Washington, D.C.

miles away

D.C.’s Floating Chandeliers

Washington, D.C.

miles away

Marilyn Monroe Mural

Washington, D.C.

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C.

United States

Places 285
Stories 49

Related Places

  • Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

    Keahole Point Blowhole

    This unusual lava tube spouts seawater during high surf.

  • Woods Bay State Park

    Olanta, South Carolina

    Woods Bay State Park

    This natural wonderland is a unique chance to explore a Carolina bay, a mysterious geological formation of unknown origin.

  • The otherworldly landscape of Padar Island.

    East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia

    Padar Island

    Once home to Komodo dragons, this island dreamscape has a rare combination of white, pink, and black sand beaches.

  • Balls Pyramid

    Australia

    Ball's Pyramid

    This dramatic sea spire is home to the world's rarest insect and is part of the lost continent of Zealandia.

  • Kaputar, Australia

    Giant Pink Slugs of Mount Kaputar

    The unique ecosystem atop an Australian mountain is home to some colorful inhabitants.

  • Vigevano, Italy

    Cathedral of St. Ambrose

    The Cathedral of St. Ambrose has been hiding a special parishioner within its walls.

  • The gorgeous formations at Valley of Fire State Park.

    Clark County, Nevada

    Valley of Fire

    The drama of nature in full effect in this Nevada State Park.

  • Rappelling into the cave

    Huehuetlán, Mexico

    Sótano de las Golondrinas (Cave of Swallows)

    The largest cave shaft in the world is home to thousands of birds and popular with BASE jumpers.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.