Zion National Park, Utah. The Three Patriarchs on the west side of Zion
Canyon.
USGS Earth Science Photographic Archive digital files:hjk0064 and hjk0065
The Three Patriarchs are visible from the Zion Canyon Visitor Center
and Watchman Campground Area. The massive cliffs consist of Lower Jurassic-age
formations, including (from bottom to top): the Moenave Formation, the
Kayenta Formation, and the massive Navajo Sandstone. These Jurassic-aged cliff-forming formations overlie older slope-forming formations along river
level: the Moenkopi Formation (Lower Triassic) and the Chinle Formation
(Upper Triassic). The cliffs tops in Zion Canyon range roughly 2,000 feet
above stream level. |