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Making America's Best Idea Even Better
Canyonlands National ParkSeedling in Biological Soil Crust
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Canyonlands National Park
Cedar Mesa Sandstone
 
photo: Spires of Cedar Mesa Sandstone in Elephant Canyon (Needles District)
NPS Photo by Neal Herbert
Spires of Cedar Mesa Sandstone in Elephant Canyon (Needles District)
 

Deposited
Permian Period (245 to 286 million years ago)

Depositional Environment
Near-shore sand dunes interfingering with periodic floods that brought dark red sediments from the ancient Uncompahgre Mountains.

Appearance
Red and white layered sandstones forming cliffs, domes and spires.

Examples
Spires and canyons in the Needles and Maze Districts of Canyonlands.
Interactive Geologic Atlas
Interactive Geologic Atlas
Flash animations manage to simplify the story of Canyonlands.
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Juniper Berries  

Did You Know?
The Utah juniper, one of the most common trees in the southwest, has the ability to self-prune. During droughts, these trees will cut off fluids from one or more branches so that the rest of the tree can survive.
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Last Updated: July 12, 2006 at 15:36 EST