Utah Trip

Well, this started out as a blog to record places we hoped to see some day, but I was not sure that we would get to any of them.

We recently returned from a road trip to Utah, and are beginning to organize our photos. 

I decided to try out the TripAdvisor free slideshow, and am posting a link to it below. I don't like all the transitions - too jerky, but it is a convenient way to host some of our photos.  Let's start with Bryce Canyon, as seen by Yvette.

http://tripwow.tripadvisor.com/tripwow/ta-00ad-3092-f5fa?ln

Derinkuyu Underground City

For any fan of rock formations, this has to be on the list of things to see.  An underground city of more than 10 levels honeycombing beneath the surface.  Probably built in the 7-8th century, but possibly as early as the 5th century (AD), it housed between 3000 to 50,000 people.  Instead of hauling up a draw-bridge, when security was required, stone doors were rolled into the entry ports.  Religious persecution is said to be the inspiration of this complex and fascinating refuge.

These homes rock!

Although I could certainly do without the snow, I love the way that these homes in Goreme were carved right into the rock, many of them still topped by conical hills.  This too is in the Cappadocia area of Turkey.  This ancient town made use of the natural terrain, yet blended in with it as far as possible, retaining much of the rugged beauty. 

Fairy Chimneys of Turkey

There are several types of Turkish Fairy Chimneys (also known as Hoodoos or earth pyramids), the tall thin spires of rock that tower above a badland or arid floor. The columns are soft sedimentary rock capped by a piece of harder, less easily-eroded stone. The Cappadocia region pillars (above) are sculpted from ancient volcanic ash. 

Smaller fairy chimneys (below) are also found in the Devrent Valley, AKA Imaginary/Imagination Valley or Pink Valley.

The photos above from Imagination Valley are from Free Travel Photography (c)

Mushroom capped Fairy Chimneys can also be seen at Pasabag, or Monk'sValley (below) (Photo also from Free Travel Photography (c) http://www.free-travel-photos.org/)

Some, like the Chapel for St. Simeon (below) are carved out for dwellings in the tradition of the region. The carved homes and underground cities will be my next post.

Gaspe!

photo by blackwell de (http://www.flickr.com/photos/blackwing_de/3892622427/), some rights reserved, (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en_CA)

Perce Rock, Gaspe Bay, Quebec.

There is only a four hour window at low tide for walking to Perce Rock (pronounced Percy Rock), unless you approach by sea. Take a ferry to Bonaventure island (and bird viewing) or kayak if your timing isn't right.

Only one of the original two arches is intact, the first having collapsed about 200 years ago.  Apparently it is a "living rock", with stones falling every few minutes, echoing as they splash into the bay or sharply resounding with impact on the exposed rock base. The wind and rain continue to erode and sculpt it as you stand on the narrow path or beneath the arch.   The remaining opening is approximately 50 feet high and 60 feet wide so there is still more than a 100 feet of rock towering above, but how long will it stand?   Time sneaks fragments, snakes into cracks awaiting a storm or surge that will pair with gravity to change this vista forever.   What view will you see by the time you arrive? 

Brimham Rocks, UK

 "Covering an area of over 1 square kilometre on Brimham Moor in Nidderdale these millstone grit stacks have been eroded by glaciation, wind and rain to produce many fantastic shapes."

© Copyright Penny Mayes and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence:  SE2065
 
I was not able to copy successfully the official licence link but for further information, please check http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1184  

Breathtaking balance.  My partner has added this destination to our list of "must see" locations for our trip to the UK, and I fullheartedly agree.  This is only one of fascinating rock formations over 50 acres at Brimham Moor in North Yorkshire, England.  For details on how they were formed, go to http://brimhamrocks.co.uk/geology.htm.

She has a fondness for bears, so I expect that the rock that caught her attention is the Dancing Bear, below.  Once again I will do my best to credit the photographer, but it may be hampered by my inability to copy some of the labels and links.

photo by Adam Jennison, downloaded at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dancing_bear_wiki.jpg
"This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License.
This licensing tag was added to this file as part of the GFDL licensing update. "
 

Antelope Canyons

While in Arizona, another must see are the North and South Antelope Canyons, Navaho Nation Parks.  These narrow slot canyons show yet again the marvelous textures and shapes that sandstone can yield.  Light beams and reflections both illuminate and caress the surfaces.

Catch the description and images at
http://www.navajonationparks.org/htm/antelopecanyon.htm

The photo below was taken by Farols Fotos and available at;
http://www.bestpicturegallery.com/Best_picture_gallery_Arizona_Antelope_Canyon.htm

(for scale, notice the other photographers)