Sunday, June 14, 2009

Valley of Fire State Park

Valley of Fire State Park

More of these astonishing red fossilized sand dunes--but in this case, at Valley of Fire State Park, a few miles east of Las Vegas, just a bit south of I-15.


Click to enlarge



Click to enlarge



Click to enlarge


I read this sign, and I found myself wondering: "What sort of person would think that there was any sport in hunting an animal this slow? Or would intentionally run one over with a car?"


Click to enlarge



Click to enlarge


More of this mix of red and black iron oxides.


Click to enlarge



Click to enlarge


This rock formation is called a beehive, and you can see why. And with a little thought, you can see how erosion on these sandstone formations could give these rounded formations.


Click to enlarge



Click to enlarge


To give you some idea of the thickness of these sandstone layers:


Click to enlarge


No, quarters don't naturally occur in these layers.

There's my wife doing her "Atlas" thing.


Click to enlarge


It doesn't seem quite as compelling in a picture as it did it person, but there was something anthropomorphic about some of these eroded sandstone rocks. At night, perhaps, with Moonlight, it might be a bit unnerving.


Click to enlarge



Click to enlarge



Click to enlarge



Click to enlarge


Here's a picture that really captures the contrast between the red sandstone layers and what I think is the limestone layer that sits atop it across much of the Southwest.


Click to enlarge

No comments:

Post a Comment