Fantasy Canyon facts for kids
Fantasy Canyon is a special place in Utah, managed by a government group called the Bureau of Land Management. It's about 27 miles (43 km) south of Vernal in Uintah County. Even though it's only about 10 acres (40,000 m2) big, it has some of the most amazing and unusual rock shapes you'll ever see! An early explorer and scientist who studied old life, Earl Douglass, first wrote about this area. He even called it names like “The Devil’s Playground” and “Hades Pit.” He shared photos of it in a magazine back in 1909.
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How Fantasy Canyon's Rocks Formed
The sandy rocks you see in Fantasy Canyon were made a very long time ago, between 38 and 50 million years ago. This time is called the Eocene Epoch. Back then, a huge lake called Lake Uinta covered the area where Uinta Basin is now. This lake was enormous! It stretched about 120 miles (190 km) west to Heber City and 30 miles (48 km) east to Rangely, Colorado. It was also about half a mile deep.
Fantasy Canyon was along the eastern edge of this ancient Lake Uinta. Over millions of years, sand, silt, and clay washed into the lake from the surrounding high lands. These loose materials slowly turned into solid rock, like sandstone and shale.
Why the Rocks Look So Unique
The amazing shapes in Fantasy Canyon formed because different parts of the rock wore away at different speeds. Some parts of the sandstone were harder and stronger, so they stayed put. Other parts, like the softer siltstone and shale, washed away more easily. This process created the spectacular scenery we see today.
These delicate rock formations are very fragile. That's why the area is sometimes called “Nature’s China Shop.” Over time, even these strong formations will wear down and turn back into sand. But as the topsoil washes away, new formations will slowly appear!
Amazing Minerals Found Here
As you explore Fantasy Canyon, you might notice black, ribbon-like streaks in the rocks or along the small paths. This magnetic material is called magnetite, which is a type of iron.
You can also see black, inch-wide lines running through the rocks. These are called gilsonite dikes. Gilsonite is a natural, tar-like material that has hardened over time. It was named after Samuel H. Gilson, who helped discover it in the 1860s. People used gilsonite for things like making wood waterproof or insulating wires.
Ancient Life: Fossils!
The rocks in Fantasy Canyon, from the Eocene age, contain fossils! These rocks hold scattered bones, mostly from mammals that lived in the area during the Eocene Epoch. You can even spot fossilized turtle shells in the area.
