Southwestern Wonders Both Natural and Man-Made

Post date: Aug 11, 2015 8:14:26 PM

We've already discussed the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Canyon de Chelly and the Meteor Crater, but there is much more to see in the Southwest!  Near the Crater in Arizona is the Petrified Forest and on New Mexico's west mesa is Petroglyph National Monument. The Forest is in Apache and Navajo territory at an elevation of about 5,400 feet.  It is known for its fossils, fallen trees from about 225 million years ago.  Their organic material has been hardened into orange, blue, purple and white crystals - giant jewels just lying around! And near Albuquerque, is the Petroglyph National Monument, home to about 24,000 images carved on the black volcanic cones by Ancestral Pueblo people. Many of the images are recognizable as animals or people, but others are more complex and have never been interpreted.  Unbelievably, suburban developments have encroached steadily on the rocks and they have barely escaped destruction.