It’s often said that the Grand Canyon is nearly two billion years old, but that’s not entirely true. At the base of the Grand canyon, the rocks that make up the lowest layers, the Vishnu Group, are estimated to be between 1.8 and 1.6 billion years old. While very old, the canyon itself is closer to only about 11 million years. Continue reading →
The South Rim of the Grand Canyon, located in northern Arizona near the town of Williams along Interstate 40 is an absolute must see destination for anyone traveling that way. Whether you have a week or two to spend, or just a few hours, your time will not be wasted if you just walk out to the rim and look. Continue reading →
Capitol Reef National Park may not be the best known national park in the US, but this little park is possibly one of the most interesting. It is in the middle of a geologic feature called “The Waterpocket Fold”, and possibly demonstrates one of the finest examples of geologic progression in the entire Colorado Plateau. While not the originally proposed name for this park, Capitol Reef got its name from the locals, who believed the large dome shaped white colored sandstone rocks in the area resembled the nation’s capitol building. They also referred to the Waterpocket fold as a Reef, indicating that it represented a natural barrier. It’s said that the two expressions combined, creating the name Capitol Reef. Continue reading →
