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Colourful canyon
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The rock spires draw tourists by the thousands
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WONDROUS ROCKS Whimsically arranged
Bryce Canyon National Park is situated in the American state of Utah. We were so fascinated by the pictures of the park that we decided to visit it.
July is fairly warm but we were advised to take along warm clothing and raincoats because Bryce is at a height of 8000–9000 ft. and the weather is unpredictable.
From Las Vegas the park is 158 miles northeast and on U.S. highway 89.
The drive there was beautiful. Rows of pine trees all along the road, veiled the colour and grandeur of the Canyon. Abruptly the land descended and in front of us loomed the delicately carved spires in vibrant colours in thousands. They are called hoodoos.
Old wonders
According to geologists, nearly 10 million years ago forces within the Earth created and moved massive blocks known as the Table Cliffs.
Millions of years of wind, water, snow and geologic mayhem have shaped and etched these brown, red, orange, yellow, white, purple pinnacles of limestone, sandstone and mudstone.
Hoodoos shoot skywards in fanciful formations. These formations are the part of the Grand Staircase. The oldest member of this super sequence of rock units are exposed in the Grand Canyon which is in Arizona. The intermediate ones are in Zion National Park and the youngest part in Bryce Canyon. An interesting American-Indian legend describes why the rocks at Bryce have such amazing shapes. It says that before the American-Indians the legend people lived in that place. They were many kinds – birds, animals, lizards, but they looked like people. But they were punished for their evil ways and turned into rocks. We can see them now, standing in rows, sitting down and holding onto others. We can see their faces with paint on them just as they were before they became rocks.
The place was named “Angka-Ku-Wars-a Wits” i.e. red painted faces. Bryce Canyon was designated a National Park on September. 15, 1928 and covers 56 miles (145 km.). It is named after Ebenezer Bryce, a Scottish immigrant. During winter snow piles deep along the forested rim and the park is a popular place to cross country ski.
Bryce Canyon lodge is a National Historic landmark and is open from April through November.
SUNANDA CHATURVEDI
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