https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=Joe 2026-05-26T20:19:49Z User contributions MediaWiki 1.30.0 https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=3221:_Landscape_Features&diff=408379 2026-03-18T18:01:02Z

<p>Joe: Added mention of question mark area of map and its connection to the title text.</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 3221<br /> | date = March 18, 2026<br /> | title = Landscape Features<br /> | image = landscape_features_2x.png<br /> | imagesize = 537x454px<br /> | noexpand = true<br /> | titletext = 'Well, there's speculation that it's due to a mantle hotspot.' --a geologist who's trying to cover up the fact that they didn't hear your question<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> {{incomplete|This page was created recently. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br /> <br /> This comic is a map of the United States, explaining some of the most significant geologic/human activity in each region. It claims that, in each area, there is one major mechanism (plate tectonics, erosion, vulcanism) which is responsible for the majority of interesting formations and features.<br /> <br /> The title text plays off the fact that a large part of geology concerned with activity in the mantle, so explaining that there is speculation something is &quot;due to a mantle hotspot&quot; is not giving much information. Saying this would let a distracted geologist hedge their bets while responding to a missed question. The area of the map marked with question marks is the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York, which are theorized to have been caused by uplift from such a mantle hotspot.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> {{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}&lt;noinclude&gt;</div>

Joe