Cedar Breaks National Park

This panoramic photograph of Cedar Breaks National Monument was taken by James Blakeway and features a late day view of the Cedar Breaks amphitheater. This geologic spectacle is the result of uplift and erosion that created an expanse of cliffs, canyons, columns, and spires that is more than 2,000 feet deep and more than three miles in diameter. From what was once an ancient lake bed located near sea level, these geologic forces are creating the beautiful landscapes of Cedar Breaks and nearby Bryce Canyon National Park. At the right is a 1,700 year-old bristlecone pine tree, which is native to the area's high country, where water is scarce, winds high and soil thin.