Explore the geological forces and ancient environments that sculpted Zion's iconic canyons and towering sandstone cliffs.
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One Hundred Fifty Million Years of Rock
This series, Sculpted by Time: The Making of Zion, traces how millions of years of geological forces built one of the most striking landscapes on the continent — layer…
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1
Zion's Place on the Grand Staircase
The rock beneath your feet here at Zion is literally where the Grand Canyon leaves off.
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2
Jurassic Sand Dunes Turned to Stone
The towering walls surrounding you were once sand dunes in a desert larger than the Sahara.
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3
A River That Punches Above Its Weight
The North Fork of the Virgin River drops roughly 70 feet per mile through Zion Canyon — one of the steepest river gradients on the continent.
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4
Kolob Canyons and the Youngest Rock
Kolob Arch, tucked into the northwest corner of Zion, spans roughly 287 feet, making it one of the longest freestanding natural arches on Earth.
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5
When Lava Flowed Through Zion's Canyons
Roughly one million years ago, molten rock broke through the earth's surface just west of what is now Rockville, sending lava flows directly into the canyon carved by…
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