Thursday, October 15th, we made our way to Antelope Canyon, which is located in Page, Arizona. We took an open-air tour truck ride to the canyon itself and were led by a young Navajo tour guide. His name was Lionel. Before the tour started, he performed what is called a “Ring Dance” for us. He used ten rings during the dance. In competitions, they use up to 55 rings!!

Antelope Canyon is the most fantastical place I think I’ve ever personally witnessed. The artwork created in this canyon is absolutely exquisite. We did not even visit in the most optimal season for photography. I would love to go back sometime on the photographer’s tour to get even more incredible photos. If you have not been to Antelope Canyon, you should add it to your to-do list. It is an awe-inspiring experience. The following is from Wikipedia.

Antelope Canyon was formed by erosion of Navajo Sandstone,[2] 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 eroded away, making the corridors deeper and smoothing hard edges in such a way as to form characteristic ‘flowing’ shapes in the rock.[3]

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.

Most of the shots you see here were taken walking through the canyon and looking up towards the sky.

This photo is called “Monument Valley” because of its eerily similar look to the rock formations located in Monument Valley. We went to Monument Valley after Antelope Canyon, and the resemblance of this angle of shot in Antelope Canyon to the actual rock formations in Monument Valley are uncanny!!

They call this shot “The Wave,” for obvious reasons!

This photo is called “Jaws” because, well because Jaws (the movie).

After the tour was finished, Lionel serenaded us with his native american flute. It was beautiful!!

On the way out, we got to see some of the neighboring landscapes and they were spectacular in their own right.

It was a very good day.