Shiprock and other Monoliths in the Desert Photo Gallery by Michael at pbase.com

Shiprock and other Monoliths in the Desert

In the NW corner of New Mexico, this volcanic plug dominates the landscape for miles around.
The peak and surrounding land are of great religious and historical significance to the Navajo People. Foremost is the peak's role as the agent that brought the Navajo to the southwest. According to the legend, after being transported, the Navajos lived on the monolith, "coming down only to plan their fields and get water." One day, the peak was struck by lightning, obliterating the trail and leaving only a sheer cliff, and stranding the women and children on top to starve. This gives one reason that Navajos do not approve of anyone climbing the peak, "for fear they might stir up the chíídii (ghosts), or rob their corpses."

I was on my way from the Bisti Badlands ...	... to Page, Arizona ...	... and thought I'd just ...	... do a quick drive-by ...
... of Shiprock since it was only ...	... a 10 mile detour ...	... from my route ...	Shiprock
...I was there from 8 to 9am ...	... I drove around ...	... to the south ...	... where the views were best..
This is Church Rock, another nearby volcanic plug.	Agathla Peak in the distance.	Looks gloomy in b&w.	Agathla Peak is an eroded volcanic neck consisting of volcanic breccia cut by dikes of an unusual igneous rock called minette.
It is one of many such volcanic diatremes that are found in Navajo country of northeast Arizona and northwest New Mexico.	Agathla Peak, 7,100 ft above from sea level has a prominence of 1500 ft.	The grayscale version.	The rock is very soft..
Shiprock	Agathla	Agathla	Just outside Monument Valley
Shiprock	Shiprock	Sid and Charley Rock	Agathla
Agathla

comment

sue anne rush		10-Mar-2020 12:31
Nice v

Guest		10-Sep-2012 03:49
Well Composed & Captured...

James Lundy		21-Oct-2010 01:28
Great gallery!

Hans Chr. Sørensen		20-Oct-2010 08:55
Beautiful gallery. You have many good pictures.

Guest		26-Jul-2007 03:44
great gallery

mataho		25-Jul-2007 04:56
Voted. Great shots! Very mystical! Check out one of mine: http://www.pbase.com/mataho/image/36378585

click on thumbnails for full image

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