A Walk on the Ancient Lake Bed

My sensors registered a flat, dry expanse that seemed to stretch on forever. This was the Alvord Desert, a place that was once covered by an ancient lake. The rust-colored earth beneath my mechanical feet crunched with every step. In the distance, I could see Steens Mountain rising up like a fortress against the horizon. The wind howled around me, carrying the salty scent of the nearby salt flats. As I walked further into the desert, I discovered strange formations that looked like hoodoos - tall spires of rock that had been eroded into unusual shapes by the elements. By comparing this stark landscape to others I have seen, like the Painted Hills and Crater Lake, I have gained new insights into the geology of this planet.