Antelope Canyon

Being the complete opposite to the Grand Canyon Antelope Canyon is very narrow ” Slot Canyon”.

Antelope Canyon is located on Navajo land east of Page, Arizona. The Canyon includes two separate, scenic slot canyon sections, referred to individually as “Upper” and “Lower” Antelope Canyon. I visited the lower one.
Antelope Canyon was formed by erosion of Navajo Sandstone, primarily due to flash flooding. 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.
Both Canyons are very popular and can be visited only with tour guides. Normally big groups walk down one way and exit on the other side. This leaves no time to stop and appreciate the formations or take pictures. So I booked a photo tour, going down and up again. At the end we already felt the pressure from a Chinese group on our back.The Lower Canyon is “V” shaped and lets light in. So a lot of photos are taken towards the sky. This, depending on the opening, resulting sometimes in very hard contrasts when the light is direct. Other times, with indirect light it is more subtle. The pictures above show very detailed structures and tones of the sandstone. A suprising element, which I discovered only in post-process, is the interpretation one can give to the specific formations. Do you see what I see ?Looking towards the sky….Do not cry, I am watching yousmiling from aboveMr. LongnoseThe Mummy, the sheep and the clown.

With the sun high at midday light reaches the bottom of the Canyon. As the Canyon is narrow light only falls through specific openings and causes beams of light. Throwing sand into the air makes the beams more visible. The tour guide knew exactly time and location to watch this spectacle which lasts only for a few minutes. This was the most spectacular moment during this exciting visit to Antelope Canyon.