Jaap van 't Veen's photos with the keyword: Moab

Wilson Arch - known as Wilson's Window for decades by the locals, renamed by the government - is a sandstone arch with a span of 28 meters and height of 14 meters. We visited there on our way to Moab and made a stop along route 191. Through a short, but steep climb we reached the impressive arch, where we enjoyed the wonderful view. From an information sign: Wilson Arch was named after Joe Wilson, a local pioneer who had a cabin nearby in Dry Valley. This formation is known as Entrada Sandstone. Over time superficial cracks, joints, and folds of these layers were saturated with water. Ice formed in the fissures, melted under extreme desert heat, and winds cleaned out the loose particles. A series of free-standing fins remained. Wind and water attacked these fins until, in some, cementing material gave way and chunks of rock tumbled out. Many damaged fins collapsed like the one to the right of Wilson Arch. Others, with the right degree of hardness survived despite their missing middles like Wilson Arch. It is against federal regulations to intentionally or wantonly destroy, deface or remove any natural feature or plant.

Dead Horse Point State Park is a small, yet one of Utah’s most spectacular state parks. It is best known for its magnificent views of the Colorado River, which finds its way more than 600 meters beneath the lookout around a rocky plateau with one large gooseneck. Further away lies the fascinating landscape of Canyonlands NP with vertical pinnacles and buttes. Millions of years of geologic activity created this spectacular area. Deposition of sediments by ancient oceans, freshwater lakes, streams and wind blown sand dunes created the rock layers of canyon country. The state park owes its name from an old story. In one place is the rocky plateau less than 30 meters wide, so the part further away as a kind of peninsula. In the past wild horses were driven to this point by cowboys, after which the narrow neck of the land was fenced off. The best horses were tamed, the other horses were usually released. According to an old legend, it happened once that the horses trapped on the rocky plateau were left to their fate; the animals died because of a lack of water.

For millions of years, the Green River, Colorado River and their tributaries have carved their way through the rocky landscape of Utah. This has created one of the most rugged areas in the United States, an almost impenetrable labyrinth of gorges with countless natural arches, bridges and the most irregular rock formations. The rivers divide the park into three parts, each with its own character. With more than 1.300 square kilometers park is Canyonlands the largest national park. The most visited part of the park is the Island in the Sky District, with a couple of overlooks providing spectacular views over the surroundings. With less than half a million visitors per year, this is the least visited National Park in the state of Utah. Main picture : view through Mesa Arch over the spires and canyons with the La Sal Mountains in the background. PiP1 : White Rim Overlook with a view of the Colorado River Canyon, and the spires of Monument Basin. PiP2 : Green River Overlook with the Stillwater Canyon with the Green River.

Arches National Park has more than 2.000 natural stone arches. Nowhere else in the world are so many natural rock arches found, as within the boundaries of the park. In addition to the arches the park also offers many other amazingly shaped rock formations, like soaring pinnacles, massive fins and giant balanced rocks. The arches and rock formations have created a red-rock wonderland. Main picture: Landscape Arch, the longest arch is with a span of 88 meters. PiP1: Wall Arch, collapsed August 4 2008, just weeks after I took this image. PiP2: Double Arch, two arches with a common end. PiP3: Balanced Rock, total height of 39 meters PiP4: Park Avenue PiP5: Courthouse Towers