Checkerboard Mesa

One of my favourites...

The geological wonder, Checkerboard Mesa, is located along Scenic Byway 9 in Zion National Park.

Deep furrows have been cut, like a checkerboard, taking millions of years to carve in the Navajo sandstone. The horizontal furrows were cut during the Jurassic period by wind-blown sands of the huge ancient sand dunes that spread out over the land in place of the massive monoliths you see in Zion National Park today. A freeze and thaw process is responsible for gradually widening the furrows along vertical joints. Notice that the carvings are always on the north side where snow takes longer to melt.

Have a good day everyone