Thursday, September 12, 2019

About Antelope Canyon


About Antelope Canyon

Antelope canyon is one of the most unique places on earth, a slot canyon carved from sandstone by rushing water over thousands of years, making it a photographer’s paradise.  Most canyons are created by Rivers which will run over the course of the same area for many thousands of years, but antelope canyon is different.  When you tour this area you will notice that the floor of the canyon is dry, and you may wonder how this crack and the earth was created if there is no flowing water moving through it.  As surprising as this is, antelope canyon was created by the rushing waters of flash floods over a soft rock surface.  This is why antelope canyon has the look that it does, with flowing and smooth rock walls which tower above the floor of the canyon itself.  One of the most unique aspects of antelope canyon is that during certain times of year when the sun is directly overhead, light beams will travel all the way from the opening at the top to the canyon floor.  When photographed with the wide open aperture, they can be captured in stunning photographs that are not able to be recreated anywhere else on earth.  With the colorful background of this move canyon walls, and the completely unique look of light beams coming through the dark to the sand floor, even the photographs do not do it justice.  It is something that you must see in person to truly appreciate, but this can be more difficult and challenging than you might expect.  The very thing that created antelope canyon is in play today, and any moment flash floods can create a dangerous situation that could trap tour groups inside the canyon and ultimately harm them.  This is happened in the past, leading to some very strict regulations to happen regarding the tours.  Safety equipment has been installed and there are no tours available on any day when the possibility of rain is there, I even within many miles of the canyon itself.  Many people do not understand that you do not have to be able to see the rain in order for it to ultimately arrive in the canyon, which is why Navajo nation operates their own weather service in order to make determinations on whether the canyon will be able to be toured on that day.  In a nutshell, you must go to antelope canyon in order to be able to tour it, even though you might not be able to make a determination until that day if the tour will be available.  You’ll also need to buy tickets in advance due to the fact that the tours sell out quickly.  You’re not allowed to self tour, an ultimately have to have either a Navajo guide or a qualified field guide leading your tour.  This is why it is suggested that you do not attempt to do this on your own, and leave the tour plans to the professional groups.

No comments:

Post a Comment