Behind Zion Human History Museum, Zion National Park, UT, 11/6/2006
Here is the richly textured view of Oak Creek Canyon and Towers of the Virgin from the meadow behind Zion Human History Museum. This arid grassland meadow at the junction of Oak Creek Canyon and Zion Canyon is about 4,020 feet above sea level. Towers of the Virgin is a mountain pillar, consisting of a group of connected vertical sandstone formations. At upper left is The West Temple (elevation 7,810 feet above sea level). The white peak immediately to the right is The Sundial (elevation 7,590 feet). Just right of center is Altar of Sacrifice (7,505 feet), and Meridian Tower (7,340 feet) is at far right. Thanks to beautiful Navajo sandstone formations like these, Zion is always abundant in color. In autumn, Zion becomes even more colorful. The golden trees in a row along Oak Creek are Fremont cottonwoods (Populus fremontii). Throughout most of the year these deciduous trees have deep green leaves, but in the fall they turn brilliant shades of yellow and gold. Fremont cottonwood is a cottonwood poplar native to this region, and flourishes in riparian settings such as here along Oak Creek.
