Vermilion Cliffs National Monument
Vermilion Cliffs National Monument | |
---|---|
U.S. Bureau of Land Management | |
Website | https://www.blm.gov/national-conservation-lands/arizona/vermilion-cliffs/ |
Vermilion Cliffs National Monument is located in northern
Creation and designation
Established on November 9, 2000 by a presidential proclamation by President
Vermilion Cliffs
The Vermilion Cliffs are steep eroded escarpments consisting primarily of
Flora and fauna
More than twenty species of
Human settlements
Human settlement in the region dates back 12,000 years, and hundreds of Native American pueblos are spread across the monument. The remains of the natives' villages, with houses, granaries, burial areas, and associated ruins, can be found here. The monument also contains one of the largest number of rock art sites in any nationally protected area. Many of these petroglyphs are believed to be among the oldest in the United States.
The first explorers into the region were Spanish
Below the Vermilion cliffs runs the historic "Honeymoon Trail", a wagon route for Mormons who journeyed to have their marriages sealed in the temple at St. George, Utah, and then to return. The route, through remote country, was otherwise seldom used. Historical markers denote this history.
Today, the region surrounding the monument is relatively unspoiled with virtually no permanent inhabitants remaining and limited road access.
See also
References
- ^ a b "National Monument detail table as of April 2012" (PDF). Bureau of Land Management. Retrieved 2012-12-27.
- ^ "Proclamation 7374 – Vermilion Cliffs National Monument" (PDF). United States Statutes at Large, volume 114, page 3422. U.S. Government Printing Office.
- ^ "Press release" (PDF). Grand Canyon Trust.org. November 9, 2000. Retrieved 2009-06-20. [dead link]
- ^ "California Condor Reintroduction & Recovery". National Park Service. Retrieved 7 December 2023.