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