Connie and I explored Monument Valley today. We took the valley drive, a 17 mile unpaved dirt road, that took us about 1 1/2 hours to complete.
Monument Valley was created from nature's erosion. During the Paleozoic Era (about 570 million years ago) the entire Colorado Plateau was underneath the Gulf of Mexico, which brushed against the Rocky Mountains. Materials that eroded from the Rocky Mountains were deposited over other silt deposit layers and cemented into sandstones. An uplift generated by ceaseless lava pressure from below the Earth's crust caused the surface to bulge and crack. These cracks deepened and widened into rocky ravines and canyons.
The uplift of the young Colorado Plateau started to develop about 65 million years ago after the collision of the Pacific and North American tectonic plates off the coast of California, sending shock waves eastward. Natural forces still continue to shape the land today. Changes occur slowly with time through thousands of years unseen by the human eye.
Endless erosion by water, wind and ice over millions of years chiseled rock formations into the unique shapes of Monument Valley. Mesa - Spanish word for table. Is a rock formation that looks like a table. A mesa is usually wide, stable and the first stage of erosion. Butte - is a rock formation that is smaller and the second stage of erosion from a mesa. Spire - the final stage of erosion from a butte, is a rock formation that becomes narrow and free standing.
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| El Capitan Located between Kayenta and Monument Valley, is an example of a volcano plug. |
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| Connie in front of East and West Mittens Look like hands; signifies spiritual being watching over us. |
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| The Passat in front of Mitchell Mesa and the Three Sisters on the left. The Three Sisters - a Catholic Nun facing her two pupils. |
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| Rain Goddess Mesa Ironic that the backdrop is a perfectly blue sky; no clouds in sight!! |
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| Totem Pole and Yei Be Chei The totem pole is the tall straight structure and the Yei Be Chei are Navajo spiritual gods that are to the left of the totem pole and look like they are dancing. |
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| View from Artists' Point. Just imagine filming a western from this vantage point! |
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| North Window Overlooks the northern view of the lower valley. |
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| Elephant Butte Can you picture an elephant in this rock formation? |
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| The Thumb A free standing spire, it also looks like a cowboy boot. |
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| Monument Valley Tribal Park Visitor Centre This gorgeous building blends in nicely with the landscape. |
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