High Resolution JPEG Picture of A stunning series of 7 images of the geological phenomenon that is Bryce Canyon in Southern Utah, Southwest USA. The major feature of the park is a collection of giant natural amphitheatres along the eastern side of the Paunsaugunt Plateau. Bryce is distinctive due to geological structures called hoodoos, formed by frost weathering and stream erosion of the river and lake bed sedimentary rocks. The red, orange, pink and white colours of the rocks provide spectacular views from the rim at Bryce which varies from 8,000 to 9,000 feet elevation. These images were all taken in mid-afternoon from around or near Sunrise Point but the late November afternoon light has brought the vibrant and luminous colours of the rocks to life, compared to many images in which they can appear washed out. The soft Pink Cliffs of the Claron Formation were eroded to form freestanding pinnacles called hoodoos, while the more resistant White Cliffs formed monoliths. The brown, pink and red colours are from haematite; the yellows from limonite and the purples are from pyrolusite. Hoodoos are composed of soft sedimentary rock and are topped by a piece of harder, less easily eroded stone that protects the column from the elements. Bryce Canyon has one of the highest concentrations of hoodoos of any place on Earth. This 7th and final image in the series is taken from Sunset Point, looking towards Sunrise Point where the density of hoodoos is lower and the temperature is cooler allowing for more significant snow dusting in the bottom of the bowl. The conifer tree in the centre foreground gives scale to the entire picture and the long shadows cast by the fading light on this late November afternoon perfectly capture the atmosphere of the place. [1202307344] stock photo
