C.I.T.O.K.A.T.E.

I believe that "path of desolation" is a high voltage power line right-of-way. You can tell because periodically you can see the shadows of the power line towers cast on the ground, from the southeast to northwest, indicating these photos were taken during the morning hours. But the lines themselves, and the bars that make up the tower structures, are below the resolution of the satelite photo. A mile south of I696 appears to be a power distribution substation. The lines appear to be coming in from the north to that distribution center, as opposed to being from Fermi II, which is to the SE near Monroe. Sorry to burst your bubble of belief with something scientific.....