Geological formationsof the Southwest
Geological formationsof the Southwest
MountainMountain
A large natural elevation of the Earth’s surface rising abruptly from the surrounding level
Created by geological uplift or volcanic activity
A large natural elevation of the Earth’s surface rising abruptly from the surrounding level
Created by geological uplift or volcanic activity Mt Humphreys
Arizona’s highest peak
CanyonCanyon
A deep gorge or ravine, typically with a river flowing through it
Can be quite wide, or very narrow
Formed through long-term erosion
A deep gorge or ravine, typically with a river flowing through it
Can be quite wide, or very narrow
Formed through long-term erosion
Salt River CanyonNear Globe, Arizona
Slot CanyonSlot Canyon
A slot canyon is a narrow canyon formed by the wear of water rushing through rock
Significantly deeper than it is wide
More dangerous for hikers and adventure seekers because of the possibility of flash floods in rainy weather
A slot canyon is a narrow canyon formed by the wear of water rushing through rock
Significantly deeper than it is wide
More dangerous for hikers and adventure seekers because of the possibility of flash floods in rainy weather
Antelope CanyonArizona
PlateauPlateau A large flat
area of land that is higher than other areas of land that surround it
Often cut deep by canyons
A large flat area of land that is higher than other areas of land that surround it
Often cut deep by canyons
MesaMesa An isolated flat-topped hill with steep
sides found all through the southwest Takes its name from its characteristic
table-top shape
An isolated flat-topped hill with steep sides found all through the southwest
Takes its name from its characteristic table-top shape
ButteButte
Similar to a mesa but narrower
A butte (pronounced beaut) is an isolated hill with steep sides and a small, relatively flat top
Similar to a mesa but narrower
A butte (pronounced beaut) is an isolated hill with steep sides and a small, relatively flat top
Zion ParkUtah
ArchArch A natural arch is a
rock formation with an opening underneath
Formed by leftover salt deposits making deep vertical cracks in the rocks
Erosion wears away sections forming fins which are narrow walls of sandstone
A natural arch is a rock formation with an opening underneath
Formed by leftover salt deposits making deep vertical cracks in the rocks
Erosion wears away sections forming fins which are narrow walls of sandstone
Arches ParkUtah
GooseneckGooseneck
Sometimes the path of the water meanders and winds back upon itself creating a gooseneck shape
Sometimes the path of the water meanders and winds back upon itself creating a gooseneck shape
Natural BridgeNatural Bridge
Similar to an arch, most are formed by stream erosion wearing a path through the sandstone of a gooseneck
Similar to an arch, most are formed by stream erosion wearing a path through the sandstone of a gooseneck
Goosenecks and Natural Bridges
Goosenecks and Natural Bridges
HoodooHoodoo
Rock pillars and spires formed by erosion of tiny streams along the rim of a plateau
Water moved over the steep slopes and carved out gullies, which widened over time leaving thin blades of rock
Continued erosion of the rock walls left behind vertical columns, called hoodoos
Rock pillars and spires formed by erosion of tiny streams along the rim of a plateau
Water moved over the steep slopes and carved out gullies, which widened over time leaving thin blades of rock
Continued erosion of the rock walls left behind vertical columns, called hoodoos
Bryce CanyonUtah
Starts out with a sandstone plateau A Fin forms which is a thin vertical rock
formation A window forms, similar to an arch but
in the side of a rock Erosion cause the hoodoo to form The hoodoo will continue to erode, and
eventually disappear altogether
Starts out with a sandstone plateau A Fin forms which is a thin vertical rock
formation A window forms, similar to an arch but
in the side of a rock Erosion cause the hoodoo to form The hoodoo will continue to erode, and
eventually disappear altogether
HoodoosHoodoos
Bryce CanyonUtah
Northern Arizona
Southern Utah
Natural BridgesNatural Bridges
ArchesArches
Mesas & Buttes
Mesas & Buttes
Northern Arizona
Grand CanyonArizona
Zion parkUtah