Monument Valley; June 17, 2018

Monument Valley is host to towering sandstone rock formations that have been sculpted over time and soar 120 to 300 meters above the valley floor. Monument Valley, an iconic symbol of the American West, is the sacred heart of the Navajo Nation. In some ways, Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park is the definitive West. Ancestral spirits infuse the rugged, disruptive landscapes that feel foreign, yet distinctly familiar thanks to Hollywood's long love affair with this land. The formations in Monument Valley have achieved some Hollywood fame as the backdrop of many movies and television shows, beginning with several John Wayne films including Stagecoach in 1939. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTH4QJzaxuc) How did these incredible sandstone towers form? For millions of years, layers upon layers of sediments settled and cemented in the basin. The basin lifted up and became a plateau; then the natural forces of water and wind slowly removed the softer materials and exposed what we see before us today. The spires, buttes, and other formations are still slowly chipping away but will be around long after we are gone.

Three-Sisters Butte.

A small stand closed (for some time?) due to lack of propane gas.

Three-Sisters with horses for rent.

Riders

Monument Valley, an iconic symbol of the American West, is the sacred heart of the Navajo Nation. In some ways, Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park is the definitive West.

Ancestral spirits infuse the rugged, disruptive landscapes that feel foreign, yet distinctly familiar thanks to Hollywood's long love affair with this land.

The formations in Monument Valley have achieved some Hollywood fame as the backdrop of many movies and television shows, beginning with several John Wayne films including Stagecoach in 1939. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTH4QJzaxuc)

How did these incredible sandstone towers form? For millions of years, layers upon layers of sediments settled and cemented in the basin. The basin lifted up and became a plateau; then the natural forces of water and wind slowly removed the softer materials and exposed what we see before us today. The spires, buttes, and other formations are still slowly chipping away but will be around long after we are gone.

West and East and Elephant Butte can be seen for the visitor centre and hotel in the park, and are among the most iconic of the buttes.

We drove around in our own car, but you can also drive in open cars for a small fee.

John Fords Point

A horse on its way home after a hard days work in the heat and dust.

West Mitten photographed from the window in the visitor center shop.

Monument Valley is like a national park, but it falls within the jurisdiction of the Navajo Nation's 71.000 square kilometers territory in the Four Corners region of the United States. This is the largest land area retained by a Native American tribe, with a population of roughly 350,000 as of 2016. The Navajo Nation (Naabeehó Bináhásdzo) has an elected government that includes an executive office, a legislative house, and a judicial system, but the United States federal government continues to assert plenary power over all decisions. The executive system manages a large law enforcement and social services apparatus, health services, and local educational trusts. The population continues to disproportionately struggle with health problems and unemployment.