Sunset-lit sandstone hoodoos, Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness, New Mexico, USA
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Enchantment awaits
Stunning landscapes lit by spectacular sunsets are a signature look in the Land of Enchantment, but few places in New Mexico are quite as magical as the Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness. This landscape not far from the Four Corners is full of oddly shaped hoodoos, looking something like castle walls crowded with fantastical creatures and characters. Popular names for the sandstone figures follow this imaginative thread: The section of the wilderness in our photo is called the Valley of Dreams, populated by the Giant Mushroom, the Chocolate Penguin King, and more.
These distinctive hoodoos form through differential erosion. Softer rock layers erode faster than the harder caprock. The visible formations consist of sandstone and shale, revealing ancient geological strata. They belong to the Kirtland Formation, a fossil-rich area with evidence of ancient flora and fauna. The wilderness also protects a rare petrified wood forest. Visitors must explore this landscape on foot, a measure overseen by the Bureau of Land Management for preservation.
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