NASA Just Uncovered a Hidden Rainbow Canyon in Utah, It’s Millions of Years Old
The Daily Galaxy••science
Key Points:
- Cedar Breaks National Monument in Utah, towering at 10,000 feet, showcases a vivid geological history captured by NASA’s Landsat 9, revealing tens of millions of years of sedimentary and volcanic activity.
- The colorful rock layers originate from Lake Claron, an ancient lake existing 50 to 25 million years ago, whose fluctuating water levels and chemistry created alternating pale and vibrant red-orange sediment layers.
- The monument is part of the Grand Staircase, uplifted tectonically to its current elevation, with erosion by creeks shaping the amphitheater and influencing its unique high-elevation ecosystem.
- Harsh winters and heavy snowfall characterize the climate, yet resilient bristlecone pines over 1,
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