Exclusive pics by Chandana G Nayak, USA
March 16, 2006
Chandana G Nayak, a freelance writer/editor and an avid Daijiworld reader, has plans to eventually settle down with her husband in Mangalore, although currently based in California.
Travel and photography are her keen hobbies and this fact is evident when we see the breath-taking views of the Canyons she has clicked.
Canyons are formed through erosion by the elements over millions of years. The Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon and Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument are all spread over hundreds of acres each. These great chasms are awe-inspiring in their vastness and serene silence. They serve to remind us of the humbleness of our very existence. .
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah
A flash thunderstorm about to hit - Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah (Sudden thunderstorms are frequent here and vistors need to be prepared at all times)
Buttes at the South Rim - Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona (The Grand canyon is among the natural wonders of the world)
The Colorado River winding its way along the bottom of the Grand Canyon. This is in summer when the river is just a trickle.
Just before sunset at Grand Canyon - The cloudy/foggy quality of the picture is due to a film of dust and smog over the Grand Canyon caused by air pollution, particularly from automobiles. This is a major issue of concern for environmentalists.
Grand Canyon
Red Canyon, Utah
Sunset at Bryce Canyon, Utah
Hiking trail among the hoodoos at Bryce Canyon, Utah
Natural Bridge - Bryce Canyon, Utah
The Grand Canyon is by far the largest and most famous of all the natural canyons in the US and perhaps the world. The rocks here are mostly Kaibab limestone. The oldest rocks at the bottom of the canyon date as far back as a billion years ago. The Grand Canyon is known for the numerous “buttes” that dot the land as far as the eye can see. A butte is defined as “a hill that rises abruptly from the surrounding area and has sloping sides and a flat top.”
The Bryce Canyon on the other hand, though pretty close by, is not as famous. But it has a unique beauty of its own. Here, instead of buttes, it is the “hoodoos” that catch the eye. These are but spires of colorful limestone rock that have been eroded into various interesting shapes and sizes.
The Red Canyon is orange red sandstone and is found on the way to Bryce along Highway 12 in Utah. Grand Staircase Escalante has a series of differently coloured sandstone cliffs. Some of these are seen from the highway that passes between the soaring landforms but a majority are accessible only through dirt roads and on foot.
Sunrises and sunsets are perhaps the best times to visit any of these vast natural preserves which are home to hundreds of species of birds and animals. The majestic canyons are also a haven for hikers, rock climbers and adventure-seekers.
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Also see
Dayanand Kukkaje - Albums from Archives
Geekay - Photo Album Collections
Satish Ira - Photo Album Collections
Rajtilak Naik - Best of Goan Photo Album Collections
Other Albums