4. Antelope Canyon: Solid Rock That Seems to Flow Like Silk
Location: Arizona, United States
The walls seem to fold over one another like fabric. Curves sweep upward, narrow openings frame the sky, and light turns the sandstone into overlapping shades of orange, red, and purple. Crop out the ground and it can be difficult to tell whether you are looking at a canyon or an abstract sculpture.
Antelope Canyon lies on Navajo land near Page, Arizona. Water, especially powerful flash floods carrying sand and debris, has carved the narrow passages into sandstone. The flowing shapes preserve the work of water that is usually absent when people photograph the canyon.
Sunlight adds the finishing touch. Under the right seasonal and midday conditions, beams enter openings in Upper Antelope Canyon and illuminate the interior like spotlights. The exact scene depends on where you stand and when you visit. Even without a beam, the walls are remarkable: move a few steps, and their curves can rearrange the entire picture.
