Walking Through Antelope Slot Canyon

Narrow Walls of the Antelope Slot Canyon

Narrow Walls of the Antelope Slot Canyon

This is the first time I have ever been to a slot canyon. I didn’t know that canyons could be this small. I guess it is logical that canyons don’t start out gigantic like the Grand Canyon but it is a product of millions of years of erosion. I don’t know for sure if this is the case with Antelope Slot Canyon but right now, it is still very small and narrow. Perhaps over the years it can grow wider but that would take more than a lifetime to do. Besides, with climate change, it is possible that this process would take even longer.

Illuminated Antelope Slot Canyon

Illuminated Antelope Slot Canyon

In the meantime, it is time for use humans to appreciate what mother nature has done. The walls of the slot canyon are narrow and yet they are carved in flowing patterns. Keep in mind that it is not just water that carves out the canyon but also sand. I would argue that the sand acts as a more powerful agent of erosion compared to the water. What results is beautiful patterns on the rock. The rocks themselves are formed in layers over the millennia so the erosion also exposes these layers giving the rocks a nice texture you almost never see elsewhere. Then you add the light from above which gives these forms more contrast and you got yourself a winner.

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