In the United States, Antelope Valley is a photography paradise that tourists yearn for. The photos taken in Antelope Valley all shock people’s visual nerves.
In fact, Antelope Canyon is one of the world’s famous slit canyons, located in the northern part of Arizona, USA, and is a Native American reserve. The canyon is long, deep and narrow. Due to the accumulation of mountain floods, water erosion and wind erosion over time, the red sandstone in the canyon has been polished smooth and rich in stripes. At the same time, light enters through a slit at the top of the canyon. The light reflects repeatedly on the rocks, eventually forming a dreamlike canyon with a riot of colors. It is named Antelope Canyon because antelopes often appear here. The stone itself is actually pink, but the collision of light and shadow creates a dreamy color.
Antelope Canyon, like other slit canyons, was formed by soft sandstone over millions of years under various erosive forces. The main cause is the erosion of flash floods, followed by wind erosion. During the monsoon season, flash floods often flow into the canyon in this area. Due to the sudden increase in rainfall, the flow rate of the flash floods is quite fast. Coupled with the narrow channels that narrow the river course, the vertical erosional force also increases relatively, forming the corridors at the bottom of Antelope Canyon and the hard and smooth edges on the canyon walls that resemble flowing water.
Because the canyon is located in an Indigenous reserve, it requires a local Indigenous guide to enter and there is a limit on the number of visitors. Therefore, an appointment is needed to enter Antelope Canyon. This is not only for the needs of natural and cultural protection, but also for the personal safety of tourists. Even if the sun is shining brightly above the canyon, if a sudden downpour strikes, this narrow paradise could instantly turn into a rushing hell with no chance of escape.
Antelope Canyon is divided into Upper Antelope Canyon and Lower Antelope Canyon in terms of terrain. Upper Antelope Canyon is more suitable for friends and family to visit, while Lower Antelope Canyon has a more perilous terrain and is more suitable for adventurers to go to. The exit of Antelope Canyon is only a little wider than a person, and mountain torrents gush out from here. And this is precisely the passage to Antelope Canyon. At different times of the day, the light in the canyon varies greatly. Only for a short period at noon can the sunlight penetrate through a few gaps and reach the bottom of the canyon. So when going to Antelope Valley, you must plan your visit time well; otherwise, you will miss the most beautiful moment.