Monument Valley in the USA - one of the wonders of the world, must-see! Red rocks-pillars, blue sky, plain, playing with flowers depending on the lighting - such bright colors, silence and majestic open spaces make up the landscape of the valley.
This unique place attracts with its spectacular and unearthly beauty, here the mountains, located far from each other on a flat plain, rise high up, and each mountain does not look like the neighboring one.
Location of the Valley of Monuments
Located on the border of southeastern Utah and northeast Arizona, the Valley of Monuments or Monuments covers an area of more than 330 thousand km 2 . The correct name for the valley on the Colorado Plateau is Navajo Tribal Park Monument Valley, this is the name you need to load in the navigator. The coordinates of the plateau are 39 0 59 'N, 110 0 06' W
Back to the past: how the Monument Valley in America formed
Only time, water and winds created this miracle of nature, man did not take part in this centuries-old process.
How formed the Monument Valley in Arizona, geologists have identified in the 19th century. At the time of the Mesozoic, the sea was located on the site of the Colorado Plateau; its bottom was an accumulation of sand formations. At the end of the Mesozoic era, tectonic processes changed the earth's surface, and the seabed rose up, forming a plateau. Soft rocks eroded and eroded until only remnant rocks, consisting of dense layers of red sandstone, remained above the plain. At first, the rocks were flat table mountains, but then, as a result of exposure to air and water, they became like columns, spiers and towers. The highest of them reach a height of 300 m.
Scientists distinguish several types of rocks in the Monument Valley:
- the remains of table mountains - Mesa;
- the rock becomes thinner and smaller, acquiring a relief - Butte;
- the last stage, when the rock becomes like a spire - Spire.
Confirmation that grandiose tectonic changes took place in these places is the fact that the Grand Canyon is located just 300 km from the Monument Valley, another unique natural place.
Unique rock formations
Going to look at the American miracle, Monument Valley, it is worth knowing that each bizarre rock form has a name that was designated by either the Navajo Indians who have long lived on this earth, or the first American settlers.
The Yei Bi Chei rock was named after the Navajo tribal spirits, The East and West Mitten Buyyes are like hands that, according to the Indians, belong to the gods. Near Rain God is the place of worship of the rain god.
There are rocks, which received the name for their external resemblance to a camel, cowboy boot, elephant or the hub of a railway wheel. The most famous mountain is The Three Sisters. Monument Valley is the land of Martian landscapes; it has become a source of inspiration for many artists and artists. In their honor, the mountains were named John Ford's Point and Artist's Point.
Interesting in the Valley of Monuments
The Monument Valley is only a small part of the Navajo Tribal Park, an Indian tribe.
Once Navajos lived here on a reservation, but then managed to attract tourists by offering them a lot of entertainment in addition to unique natural weathering.
What else can be seen in Monument Valley?
- Hogan Village. This is an Indian village, in which a colorful national life is represented. Instead of houses, tents are different for men and women. Women live in tents with a round roof, men in peaked. Houses are heated by foci. Indians often hold a variety of ceremonies in the village.
- Park area of stone arches. Similar to piles of sandstone piles bear poetic names Dark angel, Heavenly vault, Outfit of an old maid, Farewell. The most striking impression is the huge Rainbow Bridge next to the drying river Bridge Creek. This stone arch with a height of 100 and a width of 10 m casts with delicate shades of brown, blue, pink, red, moreover, the bridge is remarkably symmetrical.
- In the Painted desert in the south there is a forest that is stunning, because the trees in it are not living, but stone. It is assumed that wood was petrified as early as the Mesozoic. The largest exhibits have their own names, sounding poetically: Crystal Forest, Jasper Forest, Blue Mountain. On chips of huge snags reaching a height of 30 m with a trunk diameter of up to 2 m, onyx, jasper, and quartz crystals are visible with the naked eye.
- Behind the forest, there is a temple made of stone trunks. The Agate House Temple attracts tourists with its powerful energy acting on each incoming person.
- A must-see place is the John Ford's Point observation deck. It was this point that served as the scene for most of the films shot in the park. In addition, amazing view photos are obtained from here.
Valley Ways
Although Monument Valley occupies a significant part of the Colorado Plateau, only a small area is open to visitors. You can view everything in 1 day in different ways:
- By car. The ring route is 27 km. Stops are allowed only in designated areas, but at these points the most beautiful views of the surrounding nature. It is impossible to get lost, because the track is indicated by milestones and pointers. You can go by car yourself, or you can as part of an organized group in a jeep or bus. In this case, there is a chance to get into closed areas, see the most picturesque places and listen to the fascinating stories of Indian guides. Excursions last for 3 hours and all day.
- On a horse. Such an adventure leaves no one indifferent. A horse can be hired for an hour or an entire day.
- A walk. The best option for those who want to get to know the Valley of Monuments. For tourists, tracks with a length of 3 km and a duration of several hours to a day are offered. The most interesting is called Wildcat Natural Walk, it passes by the main attractions of the park. Going on a hiking trip, in the visit center you need to stock up on a map of the area and a description of the route, as well as follow the rules: do not deviate from marked signs, take water and wear the right shoes.
What can not be done in the park
The Indians carefully guard and protect their territory, so you should carefully consider their prohibitions, especially since there are not so many of them:
- Do not photograph Indians without permission;
- Do not enter Native American homes;
- Do not leave or exit the route trail;
- Do not climb on the rocks;
- do not drink alcohol.
After a tour, buying a few souvenirs is considered good form, especially since there is something to see in the shop. Native American silver jewelry, woven rugs and blankets, amulets and figurines will be an excellent gift for relatives.
Cost of visiting the park
Entrance to the Indian territory is paid according to the rates established by the Navajo, no discounts and benefits from those applied in other US national parks are valid here.
The cheapest visit to the Monument Valley will cost a lone tourist - only $ 6. You will have to pay the same amount for a motorcycle. For the right to stay overnight and spend 24 hours in the valley, you need to pay $ 12. The car fare is paid based on its size (at the same time, no one canceled the passenger fee) and ranges from $ 20 for a passenger car with 4 passengers to $ 300 for a tourist bus.
How the park works
It is interesting to visit the Monument Valley at any time of the year, but it is worth considering the park’s working hours. From May to September, you can go to the museum and go for a walk from 8 to 20 hours, from October to April - from 8 to 17 hours. There is a time for traveling around the territory: from October to April - from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., from May to September - from 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Where to stay
If you are planning to enjoy the views in Monument Valley and take stunning photos, you will have to stay late. After all, exceptional photos of rock towers are obtained at sunrise or sunset. You can relax and spend the night in a park hotel.
How to get to the valley
The easiest way to get to Monument Valley is from New York. To do this, you need to transfer from the Big Apple to the flight to Flagstaff, there you can rent a car at the airport and drive about 300 km.
From Las Vegas to the valley you have to drive 640 km.
Access to places of unique weathering is possible only on the highway by car or bus.
Interesting Facts
The Monument Valley has become a film set for many Hollywood blockbusters, including the well-known Forrest Gump, Back to the Future 3, and others.
Cowboy-themed commercials are filmed most often in the valley.
From the language of the Navajo Indians, the name of the Valley of Monuments is translated as "a place between the rocks, where there is no tree."