Rock Beauty Gallery

Sunset at Smith Rock State Park in Oregon

Sunset at Smith Rock State Park in Oregon with view of Crooked River. This tremendously beautiful, and enormously popular, natural attraction is nestled between Madras and Bend on the east side of the Cascade Mountains.
The park covers over 650 acres and is around 3000 feet in elevation.T he major rock faces are welded tuff, or compressed volcanic ash formed 30 million years ago

© David Gn Photography

Yosemite Valley Viewpoint

The natural beauty of Yosemite is so incredible that it inspired an entire 19th-century conservation movement, which resulted in the valleya??s protection as a national park in 1890. Naturalists led by John Muir and artists like photographer Ansel Adams found inspiration for their life's work here. First-time visitors to Yosemite National Park won't want to miss any of the following heart-stopping vistas, all easily accessible from paved roads throughout the park. As you leave Yosemite Valley, perhaps for a day trip down to the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias near Wawona or a scenic drive up to Glacier Point or Tioga Pass, be sure to stop off at this roadside lookout. Here at the Valley view you'll see a beautiful portrait of the Merced River (something that's missing from Tunnel View), flanked by massive El Capitan on the left and the skyscraping twin Cathedral Rocks and Spires. Look for this viewpoint along one-way Northside Drive, before the Pohono Bridge. The Valley is the main attraction in the park for the majority of visitors, and a bustling hub of activity during tourist season in the summer months

© MICHAELGERARDSANTOSCERALDE

The beautiful colours of Antelope Canyon, Arizona, Western United States of America

Antelope Canyon was formed by erosion of Navajo Sandstone, mostly due to flash flooding and less due to other sub-aerial processes. Rainwater, especially flash flooding caused by thunder-storms, runs into the extensive basin above the slot canyon sections, picking up speed and sand as it rushes into the narrow passageways. Over time the passageways eroded away, making the corridors deeper and smoothing hard edges in such a way as to form beautifully coloured artistic shapes in the rock walls

© southern lightscapes