Deep, winding canyons cut through the Colorado Plateau in southeastern Utah in this photo, taken by an astronaut on the International Space Station on April 6, 2023. These canyons, known as the Dark Canyon complex, have distinct geology, ecology, and archeology. Dark Canyon– one of seven canyons within the complex– cuts diagonally across the image. Ancestral Puebloan profession seems to have been rather sparser in Dark Canyon compared to canyons further south, cliff dwellings, petroglyphs, and lithic scatters do exist within this location.
The Colorado River flows in from Canyonlands National Park, situated simply 6 miles (10 kilometers) northeast of this view. The confluence of the Green and Colorado rivers in Canyonlands produces powerful rapids downriver. This sector of the river– part of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area– is referred to as Cataract Canyon and is well-known for its harmful whitewater rafting conditions.
Springs, hanging gardens, riparian locations, and mesas supply environment for a large range of wildlife around the Dark Canyon complex. Golden eagles, peregrine falcons, and the Mexican spotted owl have actually been observed in the complex. Dark Canyon itself extends east beyond the image into a designated wilderness area in the Manti-La Sal National Forest.
The Dark Canyon complex belongs to Bears Ears National Monument, which includes numerous cultural and historical sites. According to a governmental proclamation released in October 2021, Bears Ears is spiritual land to several Tribal Nations and Pueblos. Although Ancestral Puebloan profession appears to have actually been rather sparser in Dark Canyon compared to canyons farther south, cliff houses, petroglyphs, and lithic scatters do exist within this location.
Astronaut picture ISS069-E-001017 was acquired on April 6, 2023, with a Nikon D5 digital cam utilizing a 400-millimeter lens and is offered by the ISS Crew Earth Observations Facility and the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, Johnson Space. The image was taken by a member of the Expedition 69 team. The image has been cropped and enhanced to enhance contrast, and lens artifacts have actually been eliminated. The International Space Station Program supports the lab as part of the ISS National Lab to assist astronauts take photos of Earth that will be of the best value to researchers and the general public, and to make those images easily offered on the Internet.
Astronaut image, recorded by an astronaut on the International Space Station on April 6, 2023, shows the deep canyons that cut through the Colorado Plateau in southeastern Utah.
Petroglyphs, hanging gardens, and deep canyons make this remote landscape a notable part of Bears Ears National Monument.
Deep, winding canyons cut through the Colorado Plateau in southeastern Utah in this photograph, taken by an astronaut on the International Space Station on April 6, 2023. These canyons, referred to as the Dark Canyon complex, have distinctive geology, ecology, and archeology. They are a few of the only intact safeguarded canyons in the United States.
This rugged and remote landscape has actually been formed by disintegration. Over thousands of years, the Colorado River and smaller sized tributaries have worn down winding, steep-walled canyons into the sedimentary rock. Dark Canyon– one of seven canyons within the complex– cuts diagonally across the image. Within this canyon, sandstone walls tower up to 3,000 feet (900 meters), shading visitors from morning and afternoon sun– for this reason its name. The canyons high walls expose roughly 250 million years of geologic history and consist of deposits from the Permian duration. Cockleshell and crinoid stem fossils have been found in the location.