How Zion Canyon was Formed - Zion National Park - Springdale, UT
N 37° 17.138 W 112° 56.888
12S E 327304 N 4128338
This is an National Park Service interpretive panel located near the Temple of Sinawava explaining the origin of Zion Canyon and the formation of the Narrows.
Waymark Code: WMT9F1
Location: Utah, United States
Date Posted: 10/19/2016
Views: 8
Geologically Zion Canyon is part of the Navajo sandstone Colorado Plateau, which contained many joints and cracks when first uplifted, one of which was cut by the North Fork of the Virgin River to become Zion Canyon. The river was the largest force in cutting the canyon, mostly by flash floods, as the average flow of the river is very light.
Most of the rocks in Zion National Park are sedimentary rocks –made of bits and pieces of older rocks that have been weathered, eroded, and deposited in layers. These rock layers hold stories of ancient environments and inhabitants very different from those found in Zion today. In this distant past, Zion and the Colorado Plateau were near sea level, and were even in a different place on the globe—close to the equator. The rock layers found in Zion today were deposited between approximately 110 –270 million years ago –only in recent geologic time have they been uplifted and eroded to form the scenery of Zion National Park.
Waymark is confirmed to be publicly accessible: yes
Access fee (In local currency): 15.00
Requires a high clearance vehicle to visit.: no
Requires 4x4 vehicle to visit.: no
Public Transport available: yes
Parking Coordinates: Not Listed
Website reference: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
No specific requirements, just have fun visiting the waymark.