A Show of Light and Shadows

As we were touring in fascination through Monument Valley, the wind picked up and a dust storm rose. The red dirt flowed in swirling patterns across the desert floor. A tumble weed rolled in front of us and the wind carried a hawk through its currents. The sand carried by the wind gave the peaks and mesas a ghostly effect. Like somewhere in another world. The greenery of the shrubs were in contrast to the earthen hues and the blue sky above filtering through the sand particles. The landscape is spellbinding.

Quick Tips:

For the photographer, take a lot of film--spend time there--the light and the shadows play across the land changing it all the time.

Best Way To Get Around:

Driving. Stop on the road which winds back and forth through the park. Stop and walk. Stop and listen to the wind carrying the voices of the Native Ancestors that lived in this land.

Goulding''s Lodge is deep in the heart of the American Southwest. The Lodge offers unique expeditions which enables the guest to search out the mystery and wonder that is Navajoland. Located just north of the Arizona-Utah border, adjacent to the Navajo Tribal Park in Monument Valley, the lodge is comfortable and historic. Housed in the original 1920''s Trading Post, upstairs lived Harry and his wife "Mike" Goulding. They were lifelong friends of the Navajo, the film director and John Wayne. Visit the museum at the lodge after a day of exploring the Monument and relaxing in their pool.

Rooms are comfortable and quiet. They offer a king or two queen beds, smoking or nonsmoking.They also have a full indoor pool and a wonderful giftshop with curios and Navajo crafts.Kayenta is one of the most important towns on the Navajo Reservation, and has a variety of restaurants, grocery stores, an airport and other visitor facilities for your convenience.

Monument Valley sits at the top of a wide anticline, the Monument Upwarp. The layers of sandstone, siltstone and shale were desposted and buried here millions of years ago, before the land gave way to uplifting and folding. The reddish hues in the sand and rock of the valley are due to iron oxide and the the black streaks which decorate the rock and known as desert varnish are manganese oxide. Eroded by wind and rain, soft red shale undermines the stronger sandstone, producing the many buttes and pinnacles. The buttes and pinnacles of Monument Valley date back 270 million years. Cedar Mesa Sandstone also make up the formations that are known the world around. The base of the mesas are usually composed of Halgaito shale. Volcanic activity occurred in areas surrounding the Uplift, releasing molten rock from underneath. Remnants of these volcanoes are scattered in the distance. Alhambra Rock is another igneous rock which protrudes above the surface north of Monument Pass.

There are very few trees in the area because of the extreme dryness and lack of moisture, but an occasional juniper will appear near the edges of the valley. Purple Sage is prominent in the area and brings contrast against the deep red earth colors. During the rainy season, Cliffrose, Rabbitbrush and Snakewood can be seen growing. With plantlife being sparce, there is less wildlife in the Monument than in other parts of the Colorado Plateau.