Antelope Canyon is the most-visited and most-photographed slot canyon in the American Southwest It is located on Navajo land near Arizona. Antelope Canyon
includes two separate, photogenic slot canyon sections, referred to
individually as Upper Antelope
Canyon or The Crack; and Lower Antelope Canyon or The
Corkscrew. The Navajo name for Upper Antelope Canyon is Tsé
bighánílíní, which means "the place where water runs through
rocks." Lower Antelope Canyon is Hazdistazí or
"spiral rock arches." Both are located within the LeChee Chapter of
the Navajo Nation.
Antelope Canyon was formed by erosion of Navajo Sandstone, primarily due to flash flooding and secondarily due to other
sub-aerial processes. Rainwater, especially during monsoon season, runs into
the extensive basin above the slot canyon sections, picking up speed and sand
as it rushes into the narrow passageways. Over time the passageways are eroded
away, making the corridors deeper and smoothing hard edges in such a way as to
form characteristic 'flowing' shapes in the rock.
Flooding in the canyon still occurs. A flood occurred on October
30, 2006 that lasted 36 hours, and caused the Tribal Park Authorities to close
Lower Antelope Canyon for five months. Antelope Canyon is a popular
location for photographers and sightseers, and a source of tourism business for the Navajo Nation. It has been
accessible by permit only since 1997, when the Navajo Tribe made it a Navajo
Tribal Park. Photography within the canyons is difficult due to the wide exposure range made by light reflecting off the canyon walls.
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