Monument Valley l Breathtaking Splendor

Monument Valley Facts

The attention-grabbing title of Monument Valley serves as the most frequently used name for this breathtaking creation of natural forces. Yet, that’s only one of the names by which it’s been known, in the english language. Though less frequently, it’s also been called the Valley of Rocks.
This latter term, however, merely represents the later translation into that language of the original moniker given to it by the Indigenous Peoples of its area. In the native tongue of the local Navajo Nation, this marvel of geology first bore the designation Tsé Biiʼ Ndzisgaii.
The native inhabitants of the region long knew of its existence, of course. Archaeological evidence indicates that the first group to settle in the region, the Anasazi, did so around 1200 BCE. The Navajo Nation arrived sometime later, settling in the area, and maintains a presence.
History does not record the name of the first outsider to discover this magnificent site, or the date at which that occurred. However, it eventually became known to European-Americans through exploration and military surveys in the 1860’s, though it remained relatively remote.
Thankfully, the mesmerizing Monument Valley now enjoys a certain amount of protection from the depredations of mankind. Unlike some other marvelous natural locations within the borders of the country in which it sits, however, this does not come from being a National Park.
Instead, this mind-blowing example of the wonders of Nature remains protected and managed by the Navajo Nation as a tribal park. Established in 1958 by the Navajo nation, the location sits on tribal land, and is thus managed by the Navajo Nation Parks & Recreation Department.
This provides the marvel with a level of protection similar to that of a National Park, but under tribal sovereignty. Visitors must pay a fee, and certain areas continue to be inaccessible without a Navajo guide. This limitation serves to preserve sacred sites and respect tribal regulations.

Monument Valley Physical Description

Few visitors come away from a trip to Monument Valley feeling unmoved by its utterly enthralling beauty and presence. That being said, however, it must be noted that it’s not simply a single, clearly bounded landform but a broad region defined by its iconic natural formations and desert terrain.

The area encompassed by the Tribal Park totals roughly 41.6 sq mi (121 sq km). Yet, that only represents a portion of the total expanse of the overall region. That total geographical area measures around 143 sq mi (370 sq km). The smaller section does contain the most iconic features, though.

This entire geological wonder, and especially the area lying within the Park’s borders, remains best known for its abundance of hauntingly beautiful and unique formations. These features, created over time by multiple processes, include numerous buttes, mesas, and spires of varying sizes.

The buttes comprise towering, isolated rock formations with steep sides and flat tops. Its mesas, however, consist of larger, flat-topped hills with broad summits. Its eye-catching spires form thin, needle-like towers formed by erosion. Some formations rise 1,000 ft (300 m) above the valley floor.

Even within the majesty of Monument Valley, though, certain individual forms stand out. Notables include West Mitten Butte, which stands about 1,000 ft (300 m) tall, and resembles a left hand or mitt. The East Mitten Butte matches this in terms of height, but resembles a right hand or mitt.

Merrick Butte also stands approximately 1,000 ft (300 m) tall. Located near the mittens, it’s known for its massive flat top. The slender, needle-shaped spire named the Totem Pole, meanwhile, reaches upward 450 ft (137 m). A 700 ft (213 m) group of narrow spires named Three Sisters also appears.

The floor of the valley itself also merits a full measure of attention and appreciation. The elevation of this ranges from 5,000 – 6,000 ft (1,500 – 1,800 m) above sea level. It comprises a nearly flat desert basin covered in multiple regions of sand dunes and dry washes, commonly called arroyos.

Monument Valley Location, Formation, and Ecology

The remarkable Monument Valley formed in a part of the world already well known for its incredible abundance of natural beauty, both organic and geological. The location in which it lies therefore likely won’t surprise anyone. It formed as part of the amazing continent of North America.

There, it resides inside the continental national borders of the United States. Within that country, its geographical setting places it in the approximate southwestern section of the nation. Coincidentally, it also straddles both the northeastern corner of Arizona and the southeastern corner of Utah.

This magnificent creation of Nature, time, and geological processes formed over hundreds of millions of years through a combination of multiple natural actions. Those included the deposition of various minerals, uplift, and then subsequent erosion, all occurring on the Colorado Plateau.

Between 300 – 160 million years ago, the area possesses a covering of shallow seas, rivers, and deserts. Over time, these deposited layers of sandstone, siltstone, and shale. The three main rock layers in the valley consist of Organ Rock Shale, De Chelly Sandstone, and the Moenkopi Formation.

Later, however, between 70 – 65 million years ago tectonic forces caused the entire region to rise, forming the Colorado Plateau. Unlike many other mountainous regions, this uplift process didn’t crumple the differeing rock layers. Instead, it lifted them in both broad and relatively flat slabs.

The next portion of the formative process also required millions of years. Once uplifted, rain, wind, freeze-thaw cycles, and rivers began to erode the plateau. Softer layers, though, naturally eroded somewhat faster than the harder sandstone layers, leaving the isolated towers and mesas standing.

Despite being seen as a stark desert landscape, partly due to the deep red colors so predominant in the region, due to the presence of iron oxide in many of the rocks, Monument Valley supports a surprisingly rich and resilient ecosystem, well adapted to its arid, high-desert environment.

Flora in this location understandably evolved as drought-resistant and adapted to nutrient-poor soils and extreme temperatures. These include shrubs, such as sagebrush and Rabbitbrush. A few hardy grasses and succulents also appear. Though rare, a few tree species live here, like Utah juniper.

Fauna thrives here too, in moderate numbers. Most of them developed as nocturnal, to avoid the heat of the day. Mammals, like jackrabbits and coyotes abound. Reptiles include Horned Lizards and Western rattlesnakes. A few avians also appear, such as Roadrunners, plus insects and arachnids.