Image Catalogue number
960077T

Rita's slot Canyon, first section

Desert storms can dump large amounts of water in a very short time creating flash floods. These torrents of water can cut deep narrow channels through sand stone. The famous Slot Canyons near Page Arizona were and still continue to be carved in sandstone by flash floods.

Rita's Canyon is a little known canyon that has three distinct slot canyon sections separated by loose sand gullies.

This image was taken near the mouth of the first canyon section.

For a few hours each day the sun reaches part way down into the narrow slot canyons. The sun reflects off the red sandstone walls and takes on a red cast as it is reflected deeper into the canyon. This causes the red canyon walls to take on a gentle glow. The foreground of this image is illuminated by by strong reflected light from the canyon mouth while the deeper recess is glowing from light reflected down the canyon walls.

Near Page Arizona