‘This was our second majestic asthe first Route 9 you are tre ond snakes Virgin River 6 ‘The soaring towers and massive monoliths offér a spectacular 9" ‘grandeur. ‘The peak shown in the background and below is called Mountain of the Sun, Over the years, Zion's diverse geology has provided farmers a combination rare in the desert a wide; level place t grow food, a river to water it, and an adequate growing season, On the: Plateau between 5,000 and 7,000 feet, mab ~ 3,666 to 8,726 feet — almost ideal. ‘These differences in elevation also encourage cliverse plants and animals. such as mule decrand tuey inthe forested pls, iam “while bighors sheep and juniper peosper in eanyors.Zion National Park Tiare © adhalttat wien flocked up and mw he op-aing a ee OE te aor eegh ea a eal Sree en it etecly tle got ose ad ea are he eel ie Trclie that twas one of several Tena! vents Pte ion Re ile Zion Mowat Carmel Tunnel began in the nts 1920's _ amma — a fe al and was completed in 1030, At the time that the tunnel was dedicated, on July 4, 1930, itwas the longest runnel in the United States. The purpose of the building the Zion Tunnel (and the Zion Mount Carmel Highway) was to create direct access ‘tOBryee Canhtrand Grand Canyon ftom Zio National Park. There are actually ‘woctufinels, this one and a shorter one that follows. Tunnel Entrance Above isa picture of-what is called "Checkerboard Mesa or Mountain” due to its strange vertically and horizontally striated susface. The left corright deep scratebes are due toa north to south wind direesion while the vertical racks area result of weathering, a eyele Of freezing and thawing. Tjust love the varying collors of the sandstone layers in the pietare on the let