This reef is nowhere near the sea… Aug 2, 2021

This reef is nowhere near the sea…

…nor the US Capitol building it"s named for. Utah"s Capitol Reef National Park—first established as a national monument this day in 1937—is named for its massive rock domes that reminded explorers of that famous rotunda back in Washington, DC. Why Capitol "Reef," though? Because the imposing formations were a major obstacle to travelers through the region, the same way a coral reef is an obstacle to sailors.

© Tim Fitzharris/Minden Pictures

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Today in History

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