Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, USA

Snow, snow on the range. Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, USA

Carved by time, wind and water, Capitol Reef National Park in the US state of Utah showcases rust-hued cliffs and the natural beauty of the American West. President Franklin D. Roosevelt recognised the park's splendour by designating it as a national monument in 1937, and later it was elevated to a national park in 1971. The park was named after a series of Navajo sandstone domes that were said to resemble the US Capitol Building, while the Waterpocket Fold was referred to as a reef since it obstructed smooth transportation. Known as 'a wrinkle in the Earth's crust,' the Waterpocket Fold was carved by eons of erosion. The 100-mile-long monocline—a step-like fold—was presumably formed around 50 to 70 million years ago, and is home to towering cliffs, narrow canyons and colourful rock formations.