Antelope Canyon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Antelope Canyon |
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| Tsé bighánílíní | |
A beam of light in the weathered Upper Antelope Canyon (Hazdistazí) in Navajo
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 Antelope Canyon
Location in Arizona
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| Floor elevation | 3,704 ft (1,129 m) |
| Length | Upper Antelope Canyon: about 660 feet (200 m) Lower Antelope Canyon: about 1,335 feet (407 m) |
| Depth | about 120 feet (37 m) |
| Geology | |
| Type | Sandstone slot canyon |
| Age | 8-60 million years |
| Geography | |
| Population centers | Page |
| Topo map | USGS Page |
Antelope Canyon is a famous slot canyon located in the American Southwest. It sits on Navajo land, near Lechee, Arizona. This amazing place is a major attraction of the Lake Powell Navajo Tribal Park.
The canyon is made up of six beautiful slot canyon sections. These include Upper Antelope Canyon (also known as The Crack), Rattle Snake Canyon, Owl Canyon, Mountain Sheep Canyon, Canyon X, and Lower Antelope Canyon (also called The Corkscrew).
The Navajo name for Upper Antelope Canyon is Tsé bighánílíní. This means 'the place where water runs through the (Slot Canyon) rocks'. Lower Antelope Canyon is called Hazdistazí, or 'spiral rock arches'. Both parts of the canyon are in the LeChee Chapter of the Navajo Nation. You can only visit them with a Navajo guide.
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How Antelope Canyon Formed
Antelope Canyon was created over millions of years by erosion. This happened as flash floods and other natural processes wore away the Navajo Sandstone.
When it rains, especially during the monsoon season, water rushes into the wide area above the canyon. As this water flows into the narrow canyon paths, it picks up speed and sand. Over time, this powerful sandy water carved out the passageways. It made the corridors deeper and smoothed the hard edges. This is how the canyon got its famous "flowing" shapes.
Visiting Antelope Canyon
Antelope Canyon is a very popular spot for visitors. It brings a lot of tourism business to the Navajo Nation. People have been able to visit with tours since 1983. In 1997, the Navajo Tribe made it a Navajo Tribal Park.
Besides the Upper and Lower areas, you can also visit other parts of the canyon. These include Rattle Snake Canyon, Owl Canyon, and Mountain Sheep Canyon. Taking photos inside the canyons can be tricky. This is because of the big difference between very bright and very dark areas.
Upper Antelope Canyon
Upper Antelope Canyon is known as Tsé bighánílíní by the Navajo people. This means 'the place where water runs through rocks'. It's the most visited part of the canyon.
Its entrance and entire length are at ground level. This means you don't need to do any climbing to get in. However, new rules require visitors to walk one way through the canyon. You then hike up and over the canyon through the desert to exit.
Visitors often see direct sunlight shining down from openings at the top. These light beams make the inside of the canyon look very colorful. The beams appear most often in the summer. This is because the sun needs to be high in the sky around midday. Light beams usually start to appear around March 20 and disappear by October 20.
Lower Antelope Canyon
Lower Antelope Canyon is called Hazdistazí by the Navajo. This means 'spiral rock arches'. It is located a few miles from Upper Antelope Canyon.
In the past, visiting this canyon meant climbing ladders. Now, metal stairways have been put in place. Even with the stairs, it's a harder hike than Upper Antelope. It's longer and narrower in some spots. The ground isn't always flat. There are five sets of stairs to help you go down and come back up. Sand also falls from above, which can make the stairs slippery.
Many photographers like to visit Lower Antelope Canyon. However, fewer casual sightseers come here compared to the Upper Canyon. Special tours for photographers are available around midday when the light is best. The lower canyon has a "V" shape and is not as deep as the Upper Antelope. The lighting is usually better in the early morning and late morning.
Flash Flooding Dangers
You can only visit Antelope Canyon with a guided tour. This is because of the danger of flash floods. During monsoon season, heavy rains can quickly fill the canyon with water. Rain doesn't have to fall right on the canyon itself. Rain falling many miles away can still cause a flash flood to rush through the canyon with little warning.
In 1997, a flash flood happened in Lower Antelope Canyon. Sadly, some tourists were caught in the flood. This event led to major safety improvements. Today, strong ladder systems are bolted into the rock. Also, special safety nets can be put up at the top of the canyon. There is also a weather radio and an alarm horn at the entrance to warn people of danger.
Even with these improved safety systems, the risk of flash floods still exists. For example, in 2010, some tourists in Upper Antelope Canyon were stuck on a ledge during two flash floods. They were rescued or had to wait for the water to go down. These safety measures are in place to keep everyone as safe as possible while visiting this beautiful natural wonder.
See also
In Spanish: Cañón del Antílope para niños
