Waterpocket Fold at Capitol Reef National Park
October 09, 2013
Photographer: Stephen J. Gledhill
Summary Authors: Stephen J. Gledhill; Jim Foster
The Waterpocket Fold monocline is the most outstanding geological feature of Capitol Reef National Park in Utah. A monocline is essentially a single fold in rock strata. Approximately sixty million years of wind, rain, freeze and thaw have exposed the folded rock layers at Capitol Reef. The oldest layers of the canyon on this view are at left (east). These worn-down rocks are in places 7,000 ft (2,130 m) lower than rock walls on the opposite side of the canyon. The Waterpocket monocline extends nearly 100 mi (160 km) in length. It owes its name to deep potholes found in the canyons here that can hold water for months following significant rain/snow events. This picture was taken facing southwards from the Strike Valley Overlook, near where the Burr Trail exits west from the valley floor. Photo taken on May 3, 2009.
Photo Details: Camera Maker: NIKON; Camera Model: COOLPIX P6000; Focal Length: 6mm (35mm equivalent: 28mm); Aperture: f/7.2; Exposure Time: 0.0025 s (1/400); ISO equiv: 64; Software: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4.4 (Windows).