Carved by time, wind and water, Capitol Reef National Park showcases rust-hued cliffs and the natural beauty of the American West. President Franklin D. Roosevelt recognised the park"s splendour by designating it as a national monument in 1937, and later it was elevated to a national park in 1971. The park was named after a series of Navajo sandstone domes that were said to resemble the US Capitol Building, while the Waterpocket Fold was referred to as a reef since it obstructed smooth transportation. Known as "a wrinkle in the Earth"s crust," the Waterpocket Fold was carved by eons of erosion. The 161-kilometre-long monocline—a step-like fold—was presumably formed around 50 to 70 million years ago, and is home to towering cliffs, narrow canyons and colourful rock formations.
Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, USA
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
-
Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India
-
Camels in the desert, United Arab Emirates
-
Mallard ducks
-
Dunquin Pier, County Kerry, Ireland
-
Polar bear cub, Churchill, Manitoba, Canada
-
Golling Waterfall, Salzburg, Austria
-
Marshes of Bourges, France
-
Giant sequoias, Sequoia National Park, California, USA
-
Lightning and storm clouds at sunset near Bowman, Nebraska, United States
-
Barracudas at Shark Reef, Ras Mohammed National Park, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt
-
Red fox father and kit, Washington, USA
-
Misool, Raja Ampat Islands
-
Telašćica Nature Park, Dugi Otok, Croatia
-
Bowling Ball Beach, California, USA
-
Lake Minnewanka, Alberta, Canada
-
Eurasian lynx, Siberia
-
Cherry blossoms in Shanghai, China
-
Green sea turtle, New Caledonia
-
Mount Field National Park, Tasmania, Australia
-
Talampaya National Park, Argentina
-
Family of ashy woodswallows
-
Castles in the Bavarian Alps
-
Heidelberg on the river Neckar, Germany
-
North American beaver, Moran, Wyoming, United States
-
Masai giraffes in the Serengeti
-
Yosemite National Park, California, USA
-
Huangshan Mountains, China
-
Town Hall Square, Tartu, Estonia
-
Red deer stag
-
Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada