Temple of the Sun, Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, United States Dec 18, 2025

Temple of the Sun, Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, United States

Rock layers formed over millions of years and a massive bend in the Earth"s crust give this desert a rare window into geologic history. This is Capitol Reef National Park in Utah, where sandstone cliffs and canyons preserve a striking record of the planet"s past. It was designated as a national park in 1971. Today"s featured image highlights the sandstone monoliths of Cathedral Valley, including the Temple of the Sun, part of this extraordinary, protected landscape.

© Austin Cronnelly/TANDEM Stills + Motion

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Today in History

Dec 18, 2023Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, USA
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