Patriarchs of Zion

I visited Zion National Park recently with a mission... to capture a majestic and unique perspective that I had not seen before. Although I did take time to capture the "classics," such as the view of The Watchman and the Canyon Overlook, I was lucky to come across a wondrous find. One morning while meandering up the canyon, I drove on and while looking out the window I saw the highlights on the mountain tops. I decided to wander down to the shore of the Virgin River, and it was there I saw this reflective scene.

I present to you a winter sunrise along the Virgin River in Zion. Captured here are two of the three monumental mountains named as a tribute to the Old Testament fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The end of winter is near, as green buds began to spring from the trees and shrubs, visible in this shot. What a marvelous morning to capture nature's beauty!

"Zion National Park is located in the Southwestern United States, near Springdale, Utah. A prominent feature of the 229-square-mile (590 km2) park is Zion Canyon, which is 15 miles (24 km) long and up to half a mile (800 m) deep, cut through the reddish and tan-colored Navajo sandstone by the North Fork of the Virgin River. The lowest elevation is 3,666 ft (1,117 m) at Coal Pits Wash and the highest elevation is 8,726 ft (2,660 m) at Horse Ranch Mountain. Located at the junction of the Colorado Plateau, Great Basin, and Mojave Desert regions, the park's unique geography and variety of life zones allow for unusual plant and animal diversity. Numerous plant species as well as 289 species of birds, 75 mammals (including 19 species of bat), and 32 reptiles inhabit the park's four life zones: desert, riparian, woodland, and coniferous forest. Zion National Park includes mountains, canyons, buttes, mesas, monoliths, rivers, slot canyons, and natural arches" [source: Wikipedia].

File info: 1303-4-8865 [2:3]