utah

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THE FIRST PHOTOGRAPH IN THIS COLLECTION SHOWS THE MOENKAPI LAYER OF THE EARTH FORMED  SOME 250 MILLION YEARS AGO DURING THE TRIASSIC PERIOD.. ITS DEEP RED COLOR IS CONTRASTED WITH ITS COMPLIMENTARY COLOR OF THE SAGE. THE MOENKAPI LAYERS WERE FORMED NEAR TIDAL FLATS AND OCEAN  MARINE CONDITIONS DURING A  RISE IN SEA LEVELS....IT CAN READILY BE SEEN IN CAPITAL REEF UTAH, ONCE SUBMERGED IN SHALLOW SEAS. . AN UPWARD THRUSTING OF TECTONIC PLATES  OF THE EARTHS CRUST SOME 50-70 MILLION YEARS AGO FORMED  THE 100 MILE LONG WATERPOCKET FOLD IN CAPITAL REEF, EXPOSING THE MOENKAPI LAYER.   THAT DEFINES  UTAH, A GEOLOGICAL WONDER OF EARTHS GEOLOGY .  A RAW LANDSCAPE  UNLIKE ANY OTHER , WITH  ITS SEDIMENT ROCK FOUNDATIONS , THE NATURE OF GEOLOGY,  AND TIMES EFFECT ON THE EARTHS ELEMENTS.  IT IS A WARM LANDSCAPE REFLECTING  THE HEAT AND COLORS OF THE EARTHS SEDIMENTARY  DEPOSITS .  IT IS BOTH FRIGHTENING AND WELCOMING AT THE SAME TIME.  I NEVER TIRE OF ITS WARM BEAUTY. THE FORMS AND COLORS ATTRACT ME  LIKE NO OTHER LANDSCAPE. IT IS  NOT ROMANTIC IN THE LEAST, LIKE THE CALIFORNIA  COAST OR THE SIERRA NEVADA. WHERE ONE CAN LANGUISH IN DREAMS . NO, IT  IS A BRUTAL WAKE UP CALL,  IT'S RAW BEAUTY, OMNIPRESENT IN  SOUTHERN UTAH, A TELLING TALE OF THE LAST 250 MILLION YEARS. UTAH  BRINGING US FACE TO FACE WITH  GOD, THE CREATION AND THE SPIRIT OF MAN