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Video of Natural Bridges National Monument, Utah
Natural Bridges, 6,500 feet above sea level on Cedar Mesa, is home to three spectacular sandstone landforms. The three massive bridges where formed from sandstone that was once the shore of an ancient sea. Sipapu (In Hopi methology, a gateway through which souls may pass to the spirit world), is the second largest natural bridge in the world. Kachina (named for the dancers that play a central role in Hopi religious tradition), is the youngest of the three. A rock fall in 1992 dropped over 4,000 tons of rock to the valley floor. Owachomo (rock mound in Hopi), is named after the rock formation on top of the southeast end of the bridge. The “Bear’s Ears” buttes are seen on the horizon. Horsecollar Ruin is a well preserved ancestral Puebloan site that is more that 700 years old. There is a campground available with 13 sites. An 8.6 mile loop trail will take you to all three bridges. Shorter trails lead to each bridge from the scenic drive.
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Mirror Lake State Park – Wisconsin Dells
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Video of Mirror Lake State Park – Wisconsin Dells
Mirror Lake was formed by the old mill dam on Dell Creek near Lake Delton in 1860. Dell Creek is within the non-glaciated, or what is known as the driftless area of Wisconsin. Sandstone was formed from river deposits into shallow seas about 500,000,000 years ago, during the Late Cambrian geologic period. The rock outcroppings of Mirror Lake’s gorges are formed from weathered sandstone. Over the last 10,000 years Dell Creek cut gorges into the thick, soft sandstone rock. This 2,050 acre park lies within three miles of Wisconsin Dells and draws more than 200,000 visitors a year. The park has many miles of trails for hiking, cross-country skiing, mountain biking and nature viewing. The no-wake lake is ideal for canoeing and kayaking. There are 151 family campsites in three campgrounds, seven walk-in group sites for tents only, an accessible cabin for people with disabilities and a unique rental cottage designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
Mirror Lake State Park Campgrounds
Blog entries for Mirror Lake State Park
Weather forecast for Mirror Lake State Park and vicinity
