<p>A close up of the bottom section of a totem pole that reveals several cracks that run horizontally with the grain of the wood.</p>
<p>Yellow Cedar seems to be sensitive to cold temperatures and dry spells, causing cracks in the grain of the wood that get wider or narrower with the changes in weather. This "checking" is less significant in Red Cedar.</p>
NPS Photo
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://npgallery.nps.gov/">NPGallery</a>