Chinle Formation Pictures, Images and Stock Photos

Petrified Forest National Park

Petrified Forest National Park

Badlands are a particular type of rock formation found in arid regions around the world. These formations require poorly consolidated rock and infrequent but torrential rain. The soft rock allows large quantities of water to channel down gullies, carrying away sediment. Bentonite clay within these formations can swell up with moisture. As the clay dries it shrinks and cracks, creating a surface resembling the skin of an elephant. Beneath the surface, an intricate maze of natural pipes and spaces form within the badlands. This hidden plumbing appears on the face of the badlands as dimples, sinks, slumps and seeps. As erosion continues, new features including caves and natural bridges can form. Badlands often take on varied colors giving the formations a banded appearance. These colorful badland formations were at Blue Mesa in Petrified Forest National Park near Holbrook, Arizona, USA.

Petrified wood is formed when dead trees are buried by layers of sediment. The logs soak up groundwater and silica from volcanic ash and over time are crystallized into quartz. Different minerals create the colors seen in the logs. These petrified logs are at the Rainbow Forest in Petrified Forest National Park near Holbrook, Arizona, USA.

Close-up view of the colorful petrified wood samples in the Petrified Forest state park, Escalante, Utah, USA. This sample were viewed on the Sleeping rainbow trial. It was part of a conifer which were caught in a flood during the upper Triassic epoch. During the petrifying process the cellulous were replaced by Bentonite clays, derived from volcanic ash, which gave it its spectacular colors. Legend says that you will be cursed if you remove a piece of fossilized wood from the area.

Badlands are a particular type of rock formation found in arid regions around the world. These formations require poorly consolidated rock and infrequent but torrential rain. The soft rock allows large quantities of water to channel down gullies, carrying away sediment. Bentonite clay within these formations can swell up with moisture. As the clay dries it shrinks and cracks, creating a surface resembling the skin of an elephant. Beneath the surface, an intricate maze of natural pipes and spaces form within the badlands. This hidden plumbing appears on the face of the badlands as dimples, sinks, slumps and seeps. As erosion continues, new features including caves and natural bridges can form. Badlands often take on varied colors giving the formations a banded appearance. These colorful badland formations were at Blue Mesa in Petrified Forest National Park near Holbrook, Arizona, USA.

Badlands are a particular type of rock formation found in arid regions around the world. These formations require poorly consolidated rock and infrequent but torrential rain. The soft rock allows large quantities of water to channel down gullies, carrying away sediment. Bentonite clay within these formations can swell up with moisture. As the clay dries it shrinks and cracks, creating a surface resembling the skin of an elephant. Beneath the surface, an intricate maze of natural pipes and spaces form within the badlands. This hidden plumbing appears on the face of the badlands as dimples, sinks, slumps and seeps. As erosion continues, new features including caves and natural bridges can form. Badlands often take on varied colors giving the formations a banded appearance. These colorful badland formations were at Blue Mesa in Petrified Forest National Park near Holbrook, Arizona, USA.

Petrified Forest National Park

On the Scenic Drive in Capitol Reef N.P. From the top down Wingate Sandstone, Chinle Formation, and Moenkopi Formation layers from the Jurassic and Triassic Periods. Capitol Reef National Park, Utah; Part of the Waterpocket Fold called the Castle. Colorado Plateau area uplifted to create the Waterpocket Fold.

Taken in Georgia O'Keeffe Country near Abiquiu, New Mexico in tne Carson National Forest at Echo Amphitheater.

The Painted Desert is an interesting and colorful part of Northern Arizona. It starts south of Holbrook and extends about 120 miles north almost to the Utah border. It encompasses about 7,500 square miles of the Colorado Plateau. The area is made up of colorful mudstone and sandstone known as the Chinle Formation. The rocks of the Chinle Formation were deposited from 227 to 205 million years ago during the Triassic Period. Over the next 180 million years the rocks were buried, uplifted and then eroded into the present-day badland topography. This photograph of the Painted Desert was taken from Little Painted Desert County Park near Winslow, Arizona, USA.

Bureau of Land Management land near Hurricane, Utah and south of Zion National Park. American Southwest.

The Painted Desert is an interesting and colorful part of Northern Arizona. It starts south of Holbrook and extends about 120 miles north almost to the Utah border. It encompasses about 7,500 square miles of the Colorado Plateau. The area is made up of colorful mudstone and sandstone known as the Chinle Formation. The rocks of the Chinle Formation were deposited from 227 to 205 million years ago during the Triassic Period. Over the next 180 million years the rocks were buried, uplifted and then eroded into the present-day badland topography. This photograph of the Painted Desert was taken from Little Painted Desert County Park near Winslow, Arizona, USA.

Petrified Forest, United States - September 3, 2016: The Painted Desert Inn was originally built in 1920 using petrified wood as the main construction product. At that time it was known as the Stone Tree House, for obvious reasons, but in the late 1930's the building got a complete makeover by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Since then its exterior has more of a Southwestern style of architecture with stucco walls and vegas used as support. It now functions as a museum with the Petrified Forest National Park.

Petrified wood is formed when dead trees are buried by layers of sediment. The logs soak up groundwater and silica from volcanic ash and over time are crystallized into quartz. Different minerals create the colors seen in the logs. These petrified logs are at the Rainbow Forest in Petrified Forest National Park near Holbrook, Arizona, USA.

Between 1100AD and 1200AD native people inhabited the plains between the Painted Desert and the San Francisco Peaks of Arizona. In an area so dry it would seem impossible to live, they built pueblos, harvested rainwater, grew crops and raised families. Their way of life was the key to survival in this harsh landscape. These people survived here, farming one of the warmest and driest places on the Colorado Plateau. They developed the skills to farm the land and endure hardship in an area where many would not. Today the remnants of their villages dot the landscape. Wupatki Pueblo is in Wupatki National Monument, established in 1924 to preserve this rich heritage. Wupatki National Monument is near Flagstaff, Arizona, USA.

On the Scenic Drive in Capitol Reef National Park. From the top down Wingate Sandstone, Chinle Formation, and Moenkopi Formation layers from the Jurassic and Triassic Periods. Capitol Reef National Park, Utah; Part of the Waterpocket Fold. Colorado Plateau area uplifted to create the Waterpocket Fold.

On the Scenic Drive in Capitol Reef National Park. From the top down Wingate Sandstone, Chinle Formation, and Moenkopi Formation layers from the Jurassic and Triassic Periods. Capitol Reef National Park, Utah; Part of the Waterpocket Fold. Colorado Plateau area uplifted to create the Waterpocket Fold.

On the Scenic Drive in Capitol Reef National Park. From the top down Wingate Sandstone, Chinle Formation, and Moenkopi Formation layers from the Jurassic and Triassic Periods. Capitol Reef National Park, Utah; Part of the Waterpocket Fold. Colorado Plateau area uplifted to create the Waterpocket Fold.

Echo Cliffs is a prominent 70 mile long step-like fold in the rock strata called a monocline. The Chinle Formation of the Colorado Plateau is prominently exposed in the cliffs. The rocks above are from the Glen Canyon Group and the rocks below are from the Moenkopi Formation. This view of the Echo Cliffs was photographed from US Highway 89 near The Gap, Arizona, USA.

Wupatki National Monument, Arizona, USA - March 7, 2020: Between 1100AD and 1200AD native people inhabited the plains between the Painted Desert and the San Francisco Peaks of Arizona. In an area so dry it would seem impossible to live, they built pueblos, harvested rainwater, grew crops and raised families. Their way of life was the key to survival in this harsh landscape. These people survived here, farming one of the warmest and driest places on the Colorado Plateau. They developed the skills to farm the land and endure hardship in an area where many would not. Today the remnants of their villages dot the landscape. These people, led by a ranger are examining the dwelling on East Mesa in Wupatki National Monument. The monument, established in 1924 to preserve this rich heritage, is near Flagstaff, Arizona, USA.

Wupatki National Monument, Arizona, USA - March 7, 2020: Between 1100AD and 1200AD native people inhabited the plains between the Painted Desert and the San Francisco Peaks of Arizona. In an area so dry it would seem impossible to live, they built pueblos, harvested rainwater, grew crops and raised families. Their way of life was the key to survival in this harsh landscape. These people survived here, farming one of the warmest and driest places on the Colorado Plateau. They developed the skills to farm the land and endure hardship in an area where many would not. Today the remnants of their villages dot the landscape. These people, led by a ranger are examining the dwelling on East Mesa in Wupatki National Monument. The monument, established in 1924 to preserve this rich heritage, is near Flagstaff, Arizona, USA.

A woman explores a massive petrified tree trunk of a extinct conifer from the Late Triassic Chinle Formation in the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument in southern Utah. The tree trunk slowly erodes and segments break and fall of the nearby cliff. The 225 million year old area known as the Wolverine Petrified Forest is part of the second largest petrified forest of its age in North America.

On the Scenic Drive in Capitol Reef N.P. From the top down Wingate Sandstone, Chinle Formation, and Moenkopi Formation layers from the Jurassic and Triassic Periods. Capitol Reef National Park, Utah; Part of the Waterpocket Fold called the Castle. Colorado Plateau area uplifted to create the Waterpocket Fold.

Petrified Forest National Park

The Painted Desert is an interesting and colorful part of Northern Arizona. It starts south of Holbrook and extends about 120 miles north almost to the Utah border. It encompasses about 7,500 square miles of the Colorado Plateau. The area is made up of colorful mudstone and sandstone known as the Chinle Formation. The rocks of the Chinle Formation were deposited from 227 to 205 million years ago during the Triassic Period. Over the next 180 million years the rocks were buried, uplifted and then eroded into the present-day badland topography. This picture of the Painted Desert was taken from the Painted Desert Vista in the Coconino National Forest near Flagstaff, Arizona, USA.

Lomaki Pueblo, meaning the "Beautiful House", is located on Antelope Prairie in the plains between the Painted Desert and the San Francisco Peaks of Arizona. Nearly a thousand years ago natives inhabited this area which is so dry and windy it would seem impossible to live. It was here that they built pueblos, harvested rainwater, grew crops and raised families. Today the remnants of their villages dot the landscape. Wupatki National Monument was established in 1924 to preserve this cultural heritage. The monument is located off US Highway 89 near Flagstaff, Arizona, USA.

Lomaki Pueblo, meaning the "Beautiful House", is located on Antelope Prairie in the plains between the Painted Desert and the San Francisco Peaks of Arizona. Nearly a thousand years ago natives inhabited this area which is so dry and windy it would seem impossible to live. It was here that they built pueblos, harvested rainwater, grew crops and raised families. Today the remnants of their villages dot the landscape. Wupatki National Monument was established in 1924 to preserve this cultural heritage. The monument is located off US Highway 89 near Flagstaff, Arizona, USA.

Nearly a thousand years ago natives inhabited the plains between the Painted Desert and the San Francisco Peaks of Arizona. In an area so dry it would seem impossible to live, they built pueblos, harvested rainwater, grew crops and raised families. Today the remnants of their villages dot the landscape. Wupatki Pueblo is in Wupatki National Monument, established in 1924 to preserve this rich heritage. Wupatki National Monument is near Flagstaff, Arizona, USA.

Nearly a thousand years ago natives inhabited the plains between the Painted Desert and the San Francisco Peaks of Arizona. In an area so dry it would seem impossible to live, they built pueblos, harvested rainwater, grew crops and raised families. Today the remnants of their villages dot the landscape. Nalakihu Pueblo is in Wupatki National Monument, established in 1924 to preserve this rich heritage. Wupatki National Monument is near Flagstaff, Arizona, USA.

Lomaki Pueblo, meaning the "Beautiful House", is located on Antelope Prairie in the plains between the Painted Desert and the San Francisco Peaks of Arizona. Nearly a thousand years ago natives inhabited this area which is so dry and windy it would seem impossible to live. It was here that they built pueblos, harvested rainwater, grew crops and raised families. Today the remnants of their villages dot the landscape. Wupatki National Monument was established in 1924 to preserve this cultural heritage. The monument is located off US Highway 89 near Flagstaff, Arizona, USA.

Nearly a thousand years ago natives inhabited the plains between the Painted Desert and the San Francisco Peaks of Arizona. In an area so dry it would seem impossible to live, they built pueblos, harvested rainwater, grew crops and raised families. Today the remnants of their villages dot the landscape. Citadel Mesa Pueblo is in Wupatki National Monument, established in 1924 to preserve this rich heritage. Wupatki National Monument is near Flagstaff, Arizona, USA.

Lomaki Pueblo, meaning the "Beautiful House", is located on Antelope Prairie in the plains between the Painted Desert and the San Francisco Peaks of Arizona. Nearly a thousand years ago natives inhabited this area which is so dry and windy it would seem impossible to live. It was here that they built pueblos, harvested rainwater, grew crops and raised families. Today the remnants of their villages dot the landscape. Wupatki National Monument was established in 1924 to preserve this cultural heritage. The monument is located off US Highway 89 near Flagstaff, Arizona, USA.

The Painted Desert is an interesting and colorful part of Northern Arizona. It starts south of Holbrook and extends about 120 miles north almost to the Utah border. It encompasses about 7,500 square miles of the Colorado Plateau. The area is made up of colorful mudstone and sandstone known as the Chinle Formation. The rocks of the Chinle Formation were deposited from 227 to 205 million years ago during the Triassic Period. Over the next 180 million years the rocks were buried, uplifted and then eroded into the present-day badland topography. This picture of the Painted Desert was taken from the Painted Desert Vista in the Coconino National Forest near Flagstaff, Arizona, USA.

Lomaki Pueblo, meaning the "Beautiful House", is located on Antelope Prairie in the plains between the Painted Desert and the San Francisco Peaks of Arizona. Nearly a thousand years ago natives inhabited this area which is so dry and windy it would seem impossible to live. It was here that they built pueblos, harvested rainwater, grew crops and raised families. Today the remnants of their villages dot the landscape. Wupatki National Monument was established in 1924 to preserve this cultural heritage. The monument is located off US Highway 89 near Flagstaff, Arizona, USA.

Nearly a thousand years ago natives inhabited the plains between the Painted Desert and the San Francisco Peaks of Arizona. In an area so dry it would seem impossible to live, they built pueblos, harvested rainwater, grew crops and raised families. Today the remnants of their villages dot the landscape. Wukoki, a modern Hopi word for "Big House", was once inhabited by two or three native families. They were probably part of the Kayenta Anasazi culture and lived in this area from 1120 - 1210 AD. Their pueblo was a three story structure positioned on top of a Moenkopi Sandstone outcrop, high enough to provide great visibility of the surrounding area. Three rooms still exist today as well as an open plaza on the south side of the main building. Wupatki National Monument was established in 1924 to preserve this cultural heritage. The monument is located off US Highway 89 near Flagstaff, Arizona, USA.

Lomaki Pueblo, meaning the "Beautiful House", is located on Antelope Prairie in the plains between the Painted Desert and the San Francisco Peaks of Arizona. Nearly a thousand years ago natives inhabited this area which is so dry and windy it would seem impossible to live. It was here that they built pueblos, harvested rainwater, grew crops and raised families. Today the remnants of their villages dot the landscape. Wupatki National Monument was established in 1924 to preserve this cultural heritage. The monument is located off US Highway 89 near Flagstaff, Arizona, USA.

Close-up view of the colorful petrified wood samples in the Petrified Forest state park, Escalante, Utah, USA. This sample were viewed on the Sleeping rainbow trial. It was part of a conifer which were caught in a flood during the upper Triassic epoch. During the petrifying process the cellulous were replaced by Bentonite clays, derived from volcanic ash, which gave it its spectacular colors. Legend says that you will be cursed if you remove a piece of fossilized wood from the area.

Between 1100AD and 1200AD native people inhabited the plains between the Painted Desert and the San Francisco Peaks of Arizona. In an area so dry it would seem impossible to live, they built pueblos, harvested rainwater, grew crops and raised families. Their way of life was the key to survival in this harsh landscape. These people survived here, farming one of the warmest and driest places on the Colorado Plateau. They developed the skills to farm the land and endure hardship in an area where many would not. Today the remnants of their villages dot the landscape. Wupatki Pueblo is in Wupatki National Monument, established in 1924 to preserve this rich heritage. Wupatki National Monument is near Flagstaff, Arizona, USA.

Close-up view of the colorful petrified wood samples in the Petrified Forest state park, Escalante, Utah, USA. This sample were viewed on the Sleeping rainbow trial. It was part of a conifer which were caught in a flood during the upper Triassic epoch. During the petrifying process the cellulous were replaced by Bentonite clays, derived from volcanic ash, which gave it its spectacular colors. Legend says that you will be cursed if you remove a piece of fossilized wood from the area.

On the Scenic Drive in Capitol Reef National Park. From the top down Wingate Sandstone, Chinle Formation, and Moenkopi Formation layers from the Jurassic and Triassic Periods. Capitol Reef National Park, Utah; Part of the Waterpocket Fold. Colorado Plateau area uplifted to create the Waterpocket Fold.

The Castle at Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, United States.

Petrified Forest National Park

Nearly a thousand years ago natives inhabited the plains between the Painted Desert and the San Francisco Peaks of Arizona. In an area so dry it would seem impossible to live, they built pueblos, harvested rainwater, grew crops and raised families. Today the remnants of their villages dot the landscape. Wupatki Pueblo is in Wupatki National Monument, established in 1924 to preserve this rich heritage. Wupatki National Monument is near Flagstaff, Arizona, USA.

Echo Cliffs is a prominent 70 mile long step-like fold in the rock strata called a monocline. The Chinle Formation of the Colorado Plateau is prominently exposed in the cliffs. The rocks above are from the Glen Canyon Group and the rocks below are from the Moenkopi Formation. This view of the Echo Cliffs was photographed from US Highway 89 near The Gap, Arizona, USA.

Wupatki National Monument, Arizona, USA - May 19, 2011: In addition to the dwellings at Wupatki Pueblo there is a ceremonial ball court. Pictured here are some visitors walking toward the ball court.

Nearly a thousand years ago natives inhabited the plains between the Painted Desert and the San Francisco Peaks of Arizona. In an area so dry it would seem impossible to live, they built pueblos, harvested rainwater, grew crops and raised families. Today the remnants of their villages dot the landscape. Wupatki Pueblo is in Wupatki National Monument, established in 1924 to preserve this rich heritage. Wupatki National Monument is near Flagstaff, Arizona, USA.

Quartz crystals which grew in the cracks of a piece of colorful fossilized wood of the Petrified Forest state park, Escalante, Utah, USA. It was part of a conifer which were caught in a flood during the upper Triassic epoch. During the petrifying process the cellulous were replaced by Bentonite clays, derived from volcanic ash, which gave it its spectacular colors.

Wupatki National Monument, Arizona, USA - May 19, 2011: In addition to the dwellings at Wupatki Pueblo there is a ceremonial ball court. Pictured here are some visitors walking toward the ball court.

Views of San Rafael Swell and the dramatic Moss Back cliffs near Mexican Bend seen from scenic overlook off I-70 on west-bound lanes just after crossing "The Reef" with views of diverse geologic formations such as Kayenta, Chinle, Moenkopi, Sinbad, Kaibab, Wingate, Entrada

Nearly a thousand years ago natives inhabited the plains between the Painted Desert and the San Francisco Peaks of Arizona. In an area so dry it would seem impossible to live, they built pueblos, harvested rainwater, grew crops and raised families. Today the remnants of their villages dot the landscape. Wukoki, a modern Hopi word for "Big House", was once inhabited by two or three native families. They were probably part of the Kayenta Anasazi culture and lived in this area from 1120 - 1210 AD. Their pueblo was a three story structure positioned on top of a Moenkopi Sandstone outcrop, high enough to provide great visibility of the surrounding area. Three rooms still exist today as well as an open plaza on the south side of the main building. Wupatki National Monument was established in 1924 to preserve this cultural heritage. The monument is located off US Highway 89 near Flagstaff, Arizona, USA.

Between 1100AD and 1200AD native people inhabited the plains between the Painted Desert and the San Francisco Peaks of Arizona. In an area so dry it would seem impossible to live, they built pueblos, harvested rainwater, grew crops and raised families. Their way of life was the key to survival in this harsh landscape. These people survived here, farming one of the warmest and driest places on the Colorado Plateau. They developed the skills to farm the land and endure hardship in an area where many would not. Today the remnants of their villages dot the landscape. Wupatki Pueblo is in Wupatki National Monument, established in 1924 to preserve this rich heritage. Wupatki National Monument is near Flagstaff, Arizona, USA.

Lomaki Pueblo, meaning the "Beautiful House", is located on Antelope Prairie in the plains between the Painted Desert and the San Francisco Peaks of Arizona. Nearly a thousand years ago natives inhabited this area which is so dry and windy it would seem impossible to live. It was here that they built pueblos, harvested rainwater, grew crops and raised families. Today the remnants of their villages dot the landscape. Wupatki National Monument was established in 1924 to preserve this cultural heritage. The monument is located off US Highway 89 near Flagstaff, Arizona, USA.

Sandstone rock strata layers dating to Jurassic and Triassic periods in the canyon cliffs of the Southwest USA. Full frame image of rock with eroded Navajo sandstone layers in the foreground and a view into a deep canyon in the background showing exposed older formations.

Wupatki National Monument, Arizona, USA - May 19, 2011: In addition to the dwellings at Wupatki Pueblo there is a ceremonial ball court. Pictured here are some visitors looking at the ball court.