Hole-in-the-Rock (Papago Park) facts for kids

Hole-in-the-Rock, west (front) side shown

Hole-in-the-Rock is a cool natural rock formation. You can find it in Papago Park, which is a public park in Phoenix and Tempe, Arizona. It's a popular spot for visitors to explore!

What is Hole-in-the-Rock?

Hole-in-the-Rock is a small hill made of red sandstone. It has several big openings, or holes, that were created naturally over a very long time. These openings are called tafoni, which are like small caves or hollows formed in rocks.

How the Holes Were Made

The red sandstone that forms Hole-in-the-Rock is super old! It started forming about 6 to 15 million years ago. This happened when tiny bits of an even older rock, called granite, broke down and piled up. Over millions of years, water slowly wore away parts of the sandstone. This process, called erosion, created the unique holes and chambers you see today.

Exploring Inside

One of the main features is a large, open room inside the rock. It feels a bit like a natural shelter. This room connects to the back of the formation through a big hole. There's also another large opening in the "ceiling" of this room. A cool thing about Hole-in-the-Rock is that a gentle wind almost always blows through its openings.

Hohokam and the Seasons

Long ago, a group of people called the Hohokam lived in this area. They were very smart and used Hole-in-the-Rock to keep track of the seasons. They noticed how sunlight shone through the opening in the ceiling of the main chamber.

Marking the Sun's Path

The Hohokam used the sunlight to mark special times of the year. These included the equinoxes (when day and night are about equal length) and the solstices (the longest and shortest days of the year). They carved a smooth spot in the rock, called a metate, to mark these important dates. They also used boulders to mark other positions of the sun. This shows how important the sun and seasons were to their way of life.

Visiting Hole-in-the-Rock

Hole-in-the-Rock is a favorite place for people visiting Papago Park. It's easy to get to the openings and the main chamber. There's a smooth path that goes up behind the hill, making it simple to walk to the top.

Amazing Views

Once you reach the chamber, you'll get an amazing view of the city of Phoenix stretching out to the west. It's a great spot for taking photos and enjoying the scenery. While it's possible to climb the front of the hill, it's safer to use the path, especially if you're not an experienced climber.

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