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John Day region in North-central Oregon includes the John Day Painted Hills. The hills are colored clay from lava flows 30 to 40 million years ago. The clay is so dense it is completely unhospitable to plants and thus is bare.

The initial photos are from a visit in late May of 2010. This was during an unusually wet period. During wet periods, the clay color intensifies and a few grasses and plants show color.

The wind farm is around the Columbia River gorge south to Condon Oregon.