Sandstone formation and pools of water in The Wave, Paria Canyon-Vermillion Cliffs National Monument, Arizona, USA

© Dennis Frates/Alam

A sea of swirling stone

For a close-up view like this of The Wave, an incredible sandstone formation in the USA’s northern Arizona wilderness, you'd have to navigate a rugged and mostly trail-free route with a permit in your pocket (only a small number are available through a daily lottery). But that's just one hike of many in the expansive Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, which encompasses almost 300,000 acres of Arizona and Utah canyonland. Photographers and artists come here to be inspired by the colourful and intriguing sandstone formations and spectacular views of towering cliffs and deep canyons, not to mention the huge California condors which perch on rock walls.