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The first non-Native American to see this area was a man named Ebenezer Bryce. He had settled in the Paria Valley below the canyon and was generally unaware of the formations that were just to the west of his farm. One day he lost some cattle and while looking for them he wandered into the amphitheater you see below. Imagine his facial expressions as he moved through the red rock formations. Ebenezer's resulting comment from his first experience with the canyon was, "It's one hell of a place to lose a cow." |
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A family pauses for photos at the Entrance to Bryce Canyon National Park |
This is the main amphitheater of Bryce Canyon |
| Bryce Canyon is actually a series of amphitheaters that open up on the eastern rim of the Paunsaugunt Plateau. The park is 20 miles in length. Native Americans long referred to the area as "bowl shaped canyons with men standing without hands". The lifelike formations in the park, called hoodoos, are made of limestone that has been colored by oxidizing iron. |
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Long walls of formations show the color variations of different layers |
This is a wide view of the main amphitheater |
| Water manages to get into the cracks in the limestone and as the water freezes and expands it breaks apart the formations. Melting snow and flowing water from rainstorms continue to uncover the slopes of the amphitheaters in Bryce Canyon, revealing more of the remaining hard limestone formations. |
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The setting sun casts light on formations near sunset point |
Looking east toward the Paria Valley |
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Visitors from Europe pause at an overlook |
A view from below the formations (hoodoos) |
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Some hoodoo towers range hundreds of feet high |
Trees grow in the darker recesses of the hoodoo formations of Bryce Canyon |
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The forested Paunsaugunt Plateau spreads beyond the main amphitheater |
Careful scrutiny reveals people standing along the tree-line. |
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Looking southeast in an amphitheater that is halfway down the length of the park |
Looking north from the southernmost amphitheater in Bryce Canyon |
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Bryce Canyon ranges from 7,000 to 9,000 feet in elevation. |
The sign to the left makes reference to this natural bridge carved by flowing water |
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Early spring among the formations. Melting snow reveals green undergrowth. |
Another amphitheater along the 20 mile long national park |
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Unique cap-rock formations cover the hoodoos - seemingly gluing them together. |
Stark white formations cover the south end of the main amphitheater |
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A view from the southern end of the park - looking north at the rim of an amphitheater |
Shadows caused the spaces between formations to look almost black |
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Looking up again at hoodoo formations in Bryce Canyon |
Day hikers carry their gear to the next trail-head |
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Soft light turns the hoodoos into smudges of brilliant color |
Forested valleys separate various limestone formations |
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Trails weave inside the darkened recesses of the formations |
Visitors to the east pause for photographs on the rim of Bryce Canyon |
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Ravens like this one are a common visitor in the park |
This Raven poses for his photo - a rare occurrence. |
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Harder layers of stone resist erosion creating natural bridges between other formations |
Looking up at a natural bridge of stone. |
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A close-up of the limestone that comprises much of the formations |
Even in winter the trails can be negotiated amongst the formations. |
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Another view in the southern-most amphitheater |
This is the most famous formation in the Bryce Canyon - Thor's Hammer |
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Tall Pines separate the view of the main amphitheater |
Some hoodoos look more like goblins |
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More international visitors surveying the grandeur |
Here's a view of the rock and the cracks that form when water freezes within |
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Looking from one overlook to a look-out point on another level |
A family poses for shots with the park still in view over their heads |
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An overlook is hidden by branches (top-left) |
Trails wind for miles among the hoodoo formations of Bryce Canyon National Park |
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