Shiprock, Sacred mountain in San Juan County, United States.
The volcanic rock formation rises 1,583 feet above the desert plain, featuring dark minette stone walls and radiating dikes across the landscape.
The first documented climb of the formation occurred in 1939 by a Sierra Club expedition, marking the initial use of expansion bolts for protection.
The Navajo name Tsé Bitʼaʼí refers to a rock with wings, linking to traditional stories of a great bird transporting people during ancient migrations.
The formation stands at an elevation of 7,177 feet, located 10.75 miles southwest of the town of Shiprock in New Mexico.
The geological structure represents a volcanic neck from an eruption 27 million years ago, exposing vertical walls of solidified magma.
Location: San Juan County
Elevation above the sea: 2,188 m
GPS coordinates: 36.68750,-108.83600
Latest update: May 26, 2025 20:01
Satellite imagery has transformed how we view remote locations on Earth, offering perspectives on places that are often invisible or difficult to reach from ground level. This collection presents natural formations, artificial structures and historical sites from an aerial vantage point. From geological features like the circular Richat Structure in Mauritania's desert to ancient geoglyphs and modern engineering achievements, these images provide a distinct view of our planet's diversity. Locations documented include the geometric Nazca Lines in Peru, the pyramid structure of El Castillo in Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula and the Badlands Guardian in Alberta, a natural rock formation that resembles a head wearing headphones when seen from above. The collection also features Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, an artificial archipelago shaped like a palm tree, the vivid blue potash evaporation ponds in Utah, the pink waters of Lake Hillier in Western Australia and the volcanic island of Surtsey off Iceland. Additional examples include the Atacama Giant in Chile, a prehistoric geoglyph, the heart shaped Galesnjak island off Croatia's coast and the ship graveyard of the former Aral Sea in Uzbekistan, which documents the ecological consequences of human intervention.
New Mexico combines geological formations with historical sites spanning multiple periods. The region includes cave systems such as Carlsbad Caverns, extensive gypsum fields at White Sands, volcanic landscapes at El Malpais National Monument, and unusual rock formations in the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness. The territory also preserves evidence of pre-Columbian and Spanish settlement, including pueblo ruins, cliff dwellings, and seventeenth-century mission complexes. Sites range from ancient petroglyphs at Three Rivers to military installations like Fort Union. Natural attractions include hot springs at Jemez Springs, the volcanic crater of Valles Caldera, and the deep blue waters of Blue Hole. The collection features archaeological monuments such as Chaco Culture and Bandelier, geological curiosities like the hoodoos at Tent Rocks, and historic pueblos including Taos, which has been continuously inhabited for over a thousand years.
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