Dick Clark

Earth - 1 million years later.

People left earth nearly 1 million years ago. While some signs of human habitation are found as recent as 995 years ago (approximately Circa 7000 CE (common era or AD) most of humanity left earth between the 30th and 50th century.

It is assumed that humans have developed space travel, have crossed the vast distances between the worlds, perhaps evolving to meet the environments of individual worlds unknown to me.

From space earth looks remarkably the same as it did in 2009. The continents have not shifted noticeably. At night there are no longer seas of light (signs of human habitation).

The old cities are gone - in their place the native wild life has returned covering and burying the rusted remains of human civilization. Where once tall sky scrapers rose, hills - very low mounds in most cases exist.

Some species are gone, while others have evolved slightly. Elephants (as one example) range on all continents - however the North American Elephant (as one example) is smaller, with more fur and ranges as far north as the Arctic Circle.

Wolves, big cats and other various predators are making a bid to be top of the food chain.

In the oceans whales have returned. Those that survived the Human Era. Sadly Humpbacks are extinct.

There are a few signs of human history.

Bingham Canyon Mine, southwest of the ancient city once known as Salt Lake City (Utah, USA) Is the fresh water lake (although it does have more salt content than other fresh water lakes, compared to is neighbor, the Great Salt Lake it is fresh).

Around the world there are many other similar 'lakes' flooded large open pit mines.

During the past 1 million years Earths climate warmed slightly then cooled. Temperatures are somewhat cooler than they were in the era I once lived (Early 21st century) a mild glacial period is taking place.

Areas in during the human era that were arid (Central Valley California, Phoenix, Sahara Desert are enjoying a period of more precipitation. The sea level has lowered approximately 50 Feet, the North and south poles are thick with ice. This is the cause of the largest changes of the image of earth.

Vast sea shelves are now exposed. Near shore islands are hills. The Ancient sites of coastal cities can be up to several hundred miles inland.

As I stumble through this world 1 million years hence - I may discover that Yellowstone park had an episode, erupting once more - gone are Old Faithful and similar geologic structures, replaced with news ones as the new caldera floor has evolved since its last eruption.

It is highly probable that this is the event that sent a large part of Earth's Population to the stars. Earth entered into a short period of volcanic winter. Easier to fly to the stars instead of battling the geology of Earth.

It is also possible that I 'revive' near a camp ground or museum of sorts. While Humans may leave the earth for new homes, they remembered and memorialized the cradle of their birth.

Galactic civilization would most likely convert earth to a 'national park' of sorts. Perhaps a few of the cities would be maintained - partially, converted to 'living museums' Or it may be decided to make Earth a 'No Visit' zone to allow evolution to spawn another intelligent species.

Has everybody forgotten about computers? Think how much they've improved in just 100 years. Now multiply that by 10,000 and what would you have? Humans will have gone extinct, replaced by mind-boggling advanced robots. Don't think there is some way we could stop them. Try outsmarting something millions of times more intelligent than yourself. The earth going back to a natural state is only a fantasy, a comforting one, but a fantasy nonetheless.

I see dead people...

:):)

An Ice Age....