Iconic image of Monument Valley, Arizona, USA by Rietje Bulthuis

About "Iconic image of Monument Valley, Arizona, USA"

by Rietje Bulthuis

About the artwork

Monument Valley is perhaps the most appealing example of the overwhelming beauty of the desert landscape in south-western America. The silhouette of the lonely red rocks, surrounded by an empty, wide plain, has served as a backdrop for dozens of films and many commercials. Most of the park is located in Arizona, the northernmost point belongs to the state of Utah.
Millions of years ago there were many more rocks in this area, consisting of various types of rocks. The softer layers have been worn away by erosion, causing the so-called mesas to form. These are wide rocks that are flat at the top. The continuous erosion process ensures that even a mesa will wear down very slowly. The harder top layer wears less quickly than the softer sides, so a mesa becomes narrower and narrower. If the width of the rock is eventually smaller than the height, it is no longer a mesa, but a butte. The butte also slowly wears away, until a muscle remains, a rock needle. Which, in the end, will slowly disappear completely.
Monument Valley is a Navajo Nation Tribal Park, which means that it belongs to the territory that is managed by the Navajo Indians. Some families have lived in this area for generations, and they respect the traditions of their ancestors. For these Indians, tourism is an important form of income.
Monument Valley is located on the border of the states of Arizona and Utah, and can be