Zeus and Moses facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Zeus and Moses |
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Zeus and Moses from the west
(Aphrodite, Zeus, The Ark, Moses, Thracian Mare) |
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 5,132 ft (1,564 m) |
| Prominence | 372 ft (113 m) |
| Isolation | 0.26 mi (0.42 km) |
| Parent peak | Aphrodite (5,151 ft) |
| Geography | |
 Zeus and Moses
Location in Utah
Zeus and Moses
Location in the United States
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| Location | Canyonlands National Park San Juan County, Utah, U.S. |
| Parent range | Colorado Plateau |
| Topo map | USGS Upheaval Dome |
| Geology | |
| Age of rock | Late Triassic |
| Type of rock | Wingate Sandstone |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | Zeus 1970. Moses 1972. |
| Easiest route | class 5.11a Climbing |
Zeus and Moses are two amazing rock formations. They are found in the Island in the Sky area of Canyonlands National Park. This park is located in San Juan County, Utah. These tall sandstone towers stand about 500 feet (152 meters) high.
Their names come from ancient stories. Zeus was a powerful god in Roman myths. Moses was an important prophet in several religions. These rocks are made of Wingate Sandstone. This sandstone formed from old sand dunes. These dunes were blown by wind about 200 million years ago.
Zeus and Moses are located in Taylor Canyon. They are about 3 miles (5 km) north-northeast of Upheaval Dome. You can reach these towers by driving on the four-wheel drive White Rim Road. A smaller road then leads into Taylor Canyon. The top of these rocks rises 900 feet (274 meters) above the canyon floor. Rainwater from Zeus and Moses flows into the nearby Green River.
Climbing These Towers
People love to climb Zeus and Moses. The first time someone climbed Zeus was in September 1970. Famous climbers Fred Beckey and Eric Bjornstad made this first climb. They used a route called the East Ridge.
The first time Moses was climbed was in 1972. A team of climbers, including Eric Bjornstad and Fred Beckey, reached its top. They climbed the north face of Moses. Later, in 1973, another team made the second climb of Moses.
Many challenging climbing routes exist on Moses. One famous route is called Primrose Dihedrals. It is a difficult climb on the south face. Climbers Ed Webster and Steve Hong first completed it in 1979.
Weather and Climate
The best times to visit Zeus and Moses are in spring and fall. The weather is usually very nice then. The area has a Cold semi-arid climate. This means it is a desert climate. It gets less than 10 inches (254 mm) of rain each year. Snowfall is usually light during the winter months.
