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Sunday, September 7, 2014

A Hole in the Ground

Just when you think you surely must be in the middle of nowhere


the ground opens up to reveal 
a little gem of a park.


 Painted Mines Interpretive Park preserves
land that has been inhabited for 9,000 years.


Native Americans used the colorful clay for pottery and paint.


Homesteaders used it for bricks.

 Erosion created a fine array of hoodoos and spires.


It's quite an interesting hole in the ground,
and it's only an hour away from Moondance.

10 comments:

Jane and Lance Hattatt said...

Hello Terry,

Gosh this is amazing.

The scale of the area is incredible and the colours of the natural clay so wonderful. One can almost feel the history of the place from your photographs. It must make an enchanting sight to see at first hand. And, all so close to you. Perfect!

Lori Skoog said...

Thank you for sharing. The colors are incredible and so are your photos.

KateRose said...

Wow great photos!!! Thanks for sharing :)

Optimistic Existentialist said...

Oh wow so amazing!! I'd love to see this in person!

A Brit in Tennessee said...

Spectacular photographs, what a magical place.
I remember going to the caves where the Peublo indians lived, carved out of the rocks and equally fascinating.
Thank you for sharing the beauty.
~Jo

sonia a. mascaro said...

Wow! Amazing place, Terry!
The nature is really fantastic!
What a gorgeous colors of the clay and spires.
Sounds nice that this wonderful park is only an hour away from Moondance.
Thanks for sharing these gorgeous photos!

Jim said...

WOW! Double WOW! Terry, what a treasure to have so near to you.....more like a buried treasure. What a gem of a park!

Inger said...

An interesting and beautiful place to visit.

Kate said...

I really want to visit your state some day. It looks absolutely beautiful.

thecrazysheeplady said...

Very cool! I remember that surprise when I went to see the Painted Desert.