Painted Desert National Park – Arizona

Painted Desert National Park - Arizona

The desert is composed of stratified layers of mineral and decayed organic matter. The erosion of these layers by natural wind and rain patterns has resulted in the formation of many knobs, which are visually distinct due to the bands of grays, reds, oranges and yellows. The area is noted to be especially beautiful at sunset and sunrise when the land appears to glow in hues of violet, blue, red and gold. Other key features include the many mesas and buttes that rise sharply from the desert floor. Sparse desert flora and fauna can also be found, especially in wet years.

In the southern portions of the desert the remains of a Triassic Era coniferous forest have fossilized over millions of years. Wind, water and soil erosion continue to change the face of the landscape by shifting sediment and exposing layers of the Chinle Formation. An assortment of fossilized prehistoric plants and animals are found in the region, as well as dinosaur tracks and the evidence of early human habitation.

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