Colorado Plateau: Alien Landscapes of Capitol Reef

[USA.UTAH 28180] 'Waterpocket Fold seen from Strike Overlook.’ In the Waterpocket Fold, a 65 million year old earthfold at Capitol Reef National Park, different rock-formations surface in straight lines. The geologic layers, which were originally horizontal, were formed from sediments deposited over hundreds of millions of years in seas, tidal flats and deserts. As wind and water continue slowly to erode the fold, new features are created from the rock. The view is from Strike Overlook, looking north. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[USA.UTAH 28183] 'Waterpocket Fold seen from Strike Overlook.’ In the Waterpocket Fold, a 65 million year old earthfold at Capitol Reef National Park, different rock-formations surface in straight lines. The geologic layers, which were originally horizontal, were formed from sediments deposited over hundreds of millions of years in seas, tidal flats and deserts. As wind and water continue slowly to erode the fold, new features are created from the rock. The view is from Strike Overlook, looking north. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[USA.UTAH 28193] 'Thunderstorm over the Waterpocket Fold.’ In the Waterpocket Fold, a 65 million year old earthfold at Capitol Reef National Park, different rock-formations surface in straight lines. The low ridge of Oyster Shell Reef, which in the distance can be seen to form a S-curve, forms a kind of back bone that divides the expanse of the valley. The view is from Strike Overlook, looking south. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[USA.UTAH 28199] 'Thunderstorm over the Waterpocket Fold.’ As a thunderstorm crosses Capitol Reef National Park, an isolated beam of light illuminates the Waterpocket Fold, a 65 million year old earthfold. The view is from Strike Overlook, looking south. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[USA.UTAH 28205] 'Tree charred by lightning.’ The western rim of the Waterpocket Fold in Capitol Reef National Park is an area prone to lightning, as is testified by charred trees and bushes. In the distance the elongated depression of the actual Water Pocket Fold can be seen, with geologic layers surfacing in straight lines. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[USA.UTAH 28208] 'Lunar landscape in Capitol Reef.’ Longleaf Flat, a plateau just north of Fruita in Capitol Reef National Park, resembles a white lunar landscape. On the horizon the northern edge of the Henry Mountains catches the last sunlight of the evening. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[USA.UTAH 28212] 'View from Navajo Knobs.’ From Navajo Knobs, north of Fruita in Capitol Reef National Park, hikers are rewarded with a fine view of the surroundings. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[USA.UTAH 28215] 'Fremont Valley near Fruita.’ View from Panorama Point (Capitol Reef National Park) into the valley of the Fremont River near Fruita. Photo Mick Palarczyk & Paul Smit.

[USA.UTAH 28222] 'Landscape near Fruita.’ Landscape northwest of Fruita in Capitol Reef National Park. Photo Mick Palarczyk & Paul Smit.

[USA.UTAH 28122] 'Hiking among Cottonwoods in Escalante floodplain.’ In autumn the floodplain of the Escalante River (seen here east of the town of Escalante) colours brilliantly yellow with the leaves of cottonwoods. The Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii) is exceptionally tolerant of flooding, erosion and flood deposits filling around the trunk. The tree derives its name from cottony structures around its seeds which allow them to be blown long distances. Photo Mick Palarczyk & Paul Smit.

[USA.UTAH 28125] 'Cottonwoods in Escalante floodplain.’ In autumn the floodplain of the Escalante River (seen here east of the town of Escalante) colours brilliantly yellow with the leaves of cottonwoods. The Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii) is exceptionally tolerant of flooding, erosion and flood deposits filling around the trunk. The tree derives its name from cottony structures around its seeds which allow them to be blown long distances. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[USA.UTAH 28131] 'Cottonwoods in Deer Creek floodplain.’ In autumn the floodplain of Deer Creek (a tributary of the Escalante, seen here southeast of the town of Boulder) colours brilliantly yellow with the leaves of cottonwoods. The Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii) is exceptionally tolerant of flooding, erosion and flood deposits filling around the trunk. The tree derives its name from cottony structures around its seeds which allow them to be blown long distances. Photo Paul Smit.

[USA.UTAH 28134] 'Aspens north of Boulder.’ The white trunks of American aspens (Populus tremuloides) form a bright contrast with the orange and purple-grey undergrowth on the slopes of the Dixie National Forest north of Boulder. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[USA.UTAH 28182] 'Waterpocket Fold seen from Strike Overlook.’ In the Waterpocket Fold, a 65 million year old earthfold at Capitol Reef National Park, different rock-formations surface in straight lines. The geologic layers, which were originally horizontal, were formed from sediments deposited over hundreds of millions of years in seas, tidal flats and deserts. As wind and water continue slowly to erode the fold, new features are created from the rock. The view is from Strike Overlook, looking north. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[USA.UTAH 28186] 'Waterpocket Fold seen from Strike Overlook.’ In the Waterpocket Fold, a 65 million year old earthfold at Capitol Reef National Park, different rock-formations surface in straight lines. The geologic layers, which were originally horizontal, were formed from sediments deposited over hundreds of millions of years in seas, tidal flats and deserts. As wind and water continue slowly to erode the fold, new features are created from the rock. The view is from Strike Overlook, looking north. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[USA.UTAH 28196] 'Thunderstorm over the Waterpocket Fold.’ As a thunderstorm crosses Capitol Reef National Park, an isolated beam of light illuminates the Waterpocket Fold, a 65 million year old earthfold. The view is from Strike Overlook, looking south. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[USA.UTAH 28204 'Tree charred by lightning.’ The western rim of the Waterpocket Fold in Capitol Reef National Park is an area prone to lightning, as is testified by charred trees and bushes. In the distance the elongated depression of the actual Water Pocket Fold can be seen, with geologic layers surfacing in straight lines. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[USA.UTAH 28206] 'Pleasant Creek.’ Cottonwoods in autumn garb line the banks of Pleasant Creek, a little river that periodically drains floodwater from the elongated depression of the Water Pocket Fold in Capitol Reef National Park. Here we are looking to the west with the western rim of the Fold on the horizon. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[USA.UTAH 28211] 'Ravine near Fruita.’ During a walk to Navajo Knobs, along a plateau rim north of Fruita in Capitol Reef National Park, hikers encounter ravines eroded into the rim of the plateau. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[USA.UTAH 28214] 'Dinner table near Fruita.’ During a walk to Navajo Knobs, along a plateau rim north of Fruita in Capitol Reef National Park, hikers can encounter weird shapes formed by erosion. Photo Paul Smit.

[USA.UTAH 28216] 'Fremont Valley near Fruita.’ View from Panorama Point (Capitol Reef National Park) into the valley of the Fremont River near Fruita. Photo Mick Palarczyk & Paul Smit.

[USA.UTAH 28119] 'Cottonwoods in Escalante floodplain.’ In autumn the floodplain of the Escalante River (seen here east of the town of Escalante) colours brilliantly yellow with the leaves of cottonwoods. The Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii) is exceptionally tolerant of flooding, erosion and flood deposits filling around the trunk. The tree derives its name from cottony structures around its seeds which allow them to be blown long distances. Photo Mick Palarczyk & Paul Smit.

[USA.UTAH 28123] 'Hiking among Cottonwoods in Escalante floodplain.’ In autumn the floodplain of the Escalante River (seen here east of the town of Escalante) colours brilliantly yellow with the leaves of cottonwoods. The Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii) is exceptionally tolerant of flooding, erosion and flood deposits filling around the trunk. The tree derives its name from cottony structures around its seeds which allow them to be blown long distances. Photo Mick Palarczyk & Paul Smit.

[USA.UTAH 28127] 'Deer Creek.’ Where the valley of Deer Creek (a tributary of the Escalante) crosses the Burr Trail Road southeast of Boulder, red sandstone and cottonwoods (Populus fremontii) in autumn garb combine to make a colourful landscape. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[USA.UTAH 28132] 'Cottonwoods in Deer Creek floodplain.’ In autumn the floodplain of Deer Creek (a tributary of the Escalante, seen here southeast of the town of Boulder) colours brilliantly yellow with the leaves of cottonwoods. The Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii) is exceptionally tolerant of flooding, erosion and flood deposits filling around the trunk. The tree derives its name from cottony structures around its seeds which allow them to be blown long distances. Photo Paul Smit.