Southwestern Cliff Dwellers

The vast and towering red sandstone canyon walls dwarfed the many roomed pueblo of the ancient Anasazi ruins. Evidence of handholds and ancient ladders were gone. Petroglyphs and walls remained. And so did human remains and artifacts of a past time. 

As I stood there looking up from far below my mind wandered through the unapproachable rooms. Wild turkeys would have been running about eating insects and ready to sound the alarm at the approach of predators. A mother was grinding corn with her children playing around her. The father was just back from a successful hunting trip, smoking with the men, and talking about the good fortune that would provide for all the families in the pueblo. 

For over a thousand years life was good for them. Archaeologists speculate that climate change was the reason for them leaving. There is overwhelming evidence that the exodus continued in waves for hundreds of years. If you would like to know more about this subject I highly recommend reading, "House of Rain," by Craig Childs. It is not only informative but quite fun in an "Indiana Jones" kind of way. 

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Cliff Dwelling 

Southwestern cliff dwelling, of an ancient prehistoric pueblo of the Anasazi in the American southwest nestled into a towering red rock cliff. 

Canyon de Chelly, Arizona

 

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Southwestern Canyon Horses

There are still places in the west where time seems to have stopped. Canyon de Chelly, Arizona is one such place. On our hot trek down the steep canyon walls we stopped often to take in the lovely valley below and rest in the scarce shade.

When we reached the bottom there was a small green stream meandering across the sandy floor with a small herd of reservation horses nearby. I watched the herd until I noticed this mother and her foal.

They were wary of my approach so I crouched on a rock and watched until they became accustomed to my presence. Mom paused for just a second, turning to give her growing baby a nuzzle of reassurance, then they walked by me. It is moments like this one that I find so rewarding in shooting photography. You just never know what sweet surprise nature will reveal to you.

 

Reservation Horses 

Two reservation horses, a mother and her foal, nuzzle each other in reassurance in a southwestern canyon. Canyon de Chelly, Arizona

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Copyright ©Julie Magers Soulen 

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Soaring in Canyon de Chelly

The heat rose from the bottom of the canyon in shimmering waves. The red cliffs radiated their own fire in the evening light. The large graceful birds with six foot wing spans floated like dark kites on the updrafts never needing a wing beat. Their endless soaring created lazy spirals going higher and higher until I lost them in the empty sky. 

Soar 

Turkey vultures, with wingspans of 63–72 inches, gracefully ride the updrafts near red sienna canyon walls. A perfect way to add the natural beauty of the southwest to your home, office, or bedroom decor. 

Canyon de Chelly, Arizona 

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The small red box on the right side of this photo is the same area photographed in "Soar."  It gives you an idea of the grand scale of the canyon.

 

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As always, I appreciate you sharing your thoughts in my comments here or on my Facebook Page and Twitter Feed.