It’s not unusual for a hike in California to leave a lasting impression, but after the secretary of the interior toured a geological wonder near Palm Springs last year, the experience directly led to the creation of the state’s newest national monument .
“The visit made an impact on me,” Interior Secretary Deb Haaland told SFGATE in an email. “And certainly helped inform my recommendation to the President.”
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On Tuesday, President Biden officially designated the Chuckwalla National Monument to protect over 600,000 acres of desert landscape just south of Joshua Tree National Park. Among the preserve is a canyon hike that was formed after two plates along the San Andreas Fault converged…