Alien Throne in the New Mexico Badlands
November 27, 2017
Photographer: Steve Cullen
Summary Author: Steve Cullen
A journey into the badlands of New Mexico is an unforgettable experience. I've been to the Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness Study Area a handful of times and each time I return I'm in awe of its rugged beauty. This region was once a river delta just off the western shore of an ancient inland sea of North America, the Western Interior Seaway. The interesting geology includes rock formations composed of mudstone, volcanic ash and sandstone, such as the alien throne shown above in the bottom photo. If you allow yourself a little time to wander around you're likely to stumble across pieces of petrified wood -- even petrified tree roots can be found. Additionally, bones from a variety of dinosaurs have been excavated here. Evidence of human activity in this region dates back well over 10,000 years. Photos taken on September 23, 2017.
Photo Details: Top - Camera Model: NIKON D810A; Lens: 14.0 mm f/1.8; Focal Length: 14mm (35mm equivalent: 14mm); Aperture: ƒ/11.0; Exposure Time: 0.067 s (1/15); ISO equiv: 100; Software: Adobe Photoshop CC 2017 (Macintosh). Inset - same except: Exposure Time: 0.800 s.