Zion National Park situated in the Southwestern United States of Washington, Iron, and Kane countries near Springdale, Utah is 229-square miles (590 km2) located at the juncture of the Colorado Plateau, Great Basin, and Mojave Desert regions. A salient feature of it is the Zion Canyon which had length and width of 24km and 800m respectively, ripped through the reddish and tan-colored Navajo Sandstone by the Navajo Sandstone of the Virgin River. The lowest elevation is 3,666 ft (1,117 m) at Coalpits Wash and the highest elevation is 8,726 ft (2,660 m) at Horse Ranch Mountain. It is a home to numerous plant species and to 289 species of birds, 79 mammals, 28 reptiles, 7 fishes and 6 amphibian species. The park possess 4 life zones namely desert, riparian, woodland, and coniferous forest including mountains, canyons, buttes, mesas, monoliths, rivers, slot canyons, and natural arches.
In 1918, the name of the park was changed to Zion which resulted in a greater appeal to an ethnocentric audience. It was established as a National Park on November 19, 1919 by the United States Congress and the Kolob section was incorporated as a separate Zion National Monument in 1956.
The topography of the Zion and Kolob canyons includes 9 formations collectively representing 150 million years of Mesozoic–aged sedimentation in that part of North America.
The Zion Canyon road which is 6 miles long ending at the Sinawava temple, is provided with a free shuttle bus service from early April to late October and by private vehicles the remaining months of the year and its other roads is open to private vehicles year-round. It is served by the Zion Mount Carmel Highway on the east which can be traveled year-round.
Popular Attractions of the park include Virgin River Narrows, Emerald Pools, Hidden Canyon, Angels Landing, The Great White throne, Checkerboard Mesa, The Three Patriarchs, The East Temple, and Kolob Arch.
Winter is evenly mild in Zion Canyon accessible from the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. Zion streets are trenched, except the Kolob Terrace Road which is shut when covered with snow. Desert conditions prevail on canyon bottoms and rocky ledges away from perennial streams. Cooler conditions strive at mid-elevation slopes, from 3,900 to 5,500 feet.
Zion is a place for rock climbing with short walls. Zion Lodge located in the midst of Zion Canyon is available throughout the year for residing in the park and is well-equipped with motel units, cabins, restaurant, café, and gift shop. Activities like horse riding, nature are also available here from late March to early November. Zion Canyon IMAX in Springdale endeavor many amusing films on the natural history of it.
Photos Of Zion National Park
