 EPOD - a service of USRA

The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes
and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and
archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory
captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The
community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and
relevant links.


 Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, New Mexico

   March 30, 2021

    Brian sauls

   Photographer:  Brian Sauls
   Summary Author:  Brian Sauls

   The unusual landforms seen above are located in the  Kasha-Katuwe
   Tent Rocks National Monument, located about 20 miles (32 km) west of
   Santa Fe, New Mexico.  Kasha-Katuwe means white cliffs in the
    Keresan Pueblo language. The materials composing these cone-shaped
   rock formations, or  hoodoos, were deposited 6-7 million years from
    pyroclastic flows associated with violent volcanic eruptions in the
   nearby  Jemez volcanic field. The total thickness of this volcanic
   layer, consisting of distinct layers of boulder-sized rock
   fragments,  pumice, ash and tuff, exceeds 1,000 feet (300 m). As the
   rocks  eroded over the millennia, spires were created by
    differential weathering and erosion, with the relatively soft
    pumice and  tuff layers capped by more resistant boulders which
   have since toppled off. The whole array of tall pillars, which can
   reach 90 feet (27 m) in height, has left a series of deep, winding and
   slot-like recesses almost too narrow to walk through.
     * Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, New Mexico Coordinates:
        35.660278, -106.408333

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