An amazing geological formation located in the state of Arizona near the town of Page. The two-part Antelope Canyon attracts thousands of tourists. An unusual combination of colors, an interesting structure of rocks, accessibility for travelers - all this made the canyon incredibly popular among fans of American exoticism, belonging to the descendants of the Navajo Indians.
History of origin
The geological formation was formed several million years ago due to the peculiarities of the climatic zone of the state of Arizona. Despite the fact that the terrain here is very dry, precipitation is rare, but abundant. During heavy rains, soft sandstone rocks eroded, forming hollow spaces in the rock. In the future, there were many such voids in the rocks, and they began to intertwine with each other, creating bizarre landscapes. As a result, two canyons were formed: upper and lower.
The Navajo Indians called the canyon Tse bighanilini, which means "the place where water seeps through the rocks." The lower section of the canyon was called Hazdistazi or "spiral arches" by the tribe. Today the name of the canyon is associated with an animal - antelope. This name is quite understandable: when sunlight penetrates, the red sandstone turns into a luminous orange-red surface, similar to the skin of an antelope.
Upper canyon
This part of the attraction is the most visited by tourists because of its safety and accessibility. One of the features of the canyon is that its bottom is located at the entrance level. That is, to enter the canyon, you do not need to go underground or overcome difficult sections of the route. At the same time, the Upper Canyon is not inferior in its beauty to the Lower. It was chosen by photographers and filmmakers, who often shoot video clips or films here.
Externally, the Upper Canyon is a narrow gorge, at the end of which you can see a wide basin formed by sandstone rocks. During heavy rains, all the sand washed out of the canyon collects in the basin. The upper canyon is 220 meters long and over 35 meters deep.
Lower canyon
This part of the canyon is located 7 kilometers from the Upper and has a higher level of danger. There are special routes with descents and ascents for tourists. Recently, safe ladders and lifts have been installed on the territory of the canyon, allowing you to quickly get into the canyon. During the excursion, tourists must be accompanied by a professional guide.
The lower part of the canyon has a curved shape and is slightly less in length than the upper one. As a general rule, tourists are advised to visit the attraction at sunrise or sunset. This rule is due to the fact that during these periods the Lower Canyon is best illuminated, which allows you to take mesmerizing photographs.
Features of visiting Antelope Canyon
Everyone who wants to see the canyon with their own eyes needs to know the main rules and specifics of visiting the canyon, since this is a rather unusual place. First of all, you should worry about security. The most important rules for visiting the canyon are as follows:
- Any excursions along the Upper and Lower Canyons, as well as in their surroundings, are only accompanied by guides. The tour should be booked several days in advance, as this service is in demand among tourists coming to the state of Arizona.
- The most memorable sight inside the canyon is the direct beam of light penetrating the dense layers of red sandstone rocks. Many photographers "hunt" for such a frame.
- There is a legend among the Navajo Indians that those who saw a direct ray of sun inside the canyon can count on luck, wealth and good health.
- It is forbidden to walk into the canyon during inclement weather. This applies to the fall-winter period, when heavy rainfall can occur in Arizona.
The most saturated colors of the canyon walls can be captured with a camera. In reality, red sandstone looks dull and does not have a bright orange color.
Dangers of the canyon
Before the excursion, all tourists are informed about the possible dangers of the canyon excursion. There have already been accidents that ended in tragedy. In 1998, a flood occurred in the Lower Canyon during an excursion, and tourists were trapped between the walls of the canyon. Out of 12 people, only the instructor-guide survived. After this terrible event, security measures were seriously strengthened, but you should not lose your vigilance when visiting the canyon.
Each tourist is advised to wear specific clothing, which makes it easy to move inside the canyon and hide from the heat. In addition, the tourist should listen carefully to his guide and not move away from the group.
