View of a rock formation in Antelope Canyon, Navajo Nation, Arizona, USA

Waves of stone

The gentle ripples and swirls of Antelope Canyon seem to match the waters that formed it. Carved by erosion from red-tinged sandstone, the magnificent slot canyon in northern Arizona is still being shaped by the occasional water flow. In fact, care must be taken especially when exploring the canyon’s lower level, since even a minor drizzle in this desert can herald a flash flood. A sacred space to the Navajo Nation that governs these lands, Antelope Canyon is accessed only by permit these days, generally on guided tours with tribal approval. But it doesn’t take much exploration to see why this fragile formation carries spiritual significance to many, or why such care is taken to protect it.