Monument Valley

This panoramic photograph of Monument Valley was taken by James Blakeway. It features Totem Pole, the tall slender formation standing alone. Monument Valley is located on the Utah/Arizona border and is protected as a Navajo Tribal Park by the Navajo Nation. The area was once covered completely in sandstone layers, which have been worn away over millions of years to reveal the stone formations, mesas and buttes we associate with Monument Valley today. Images of these formations seem to epitomize the American Southwest, as they have appeared in countless films and television commercials over the years. The area was first brought to the attention of the film and tourist industries by John Ford's 1938 film, “Stagecoach,” starring John Wayne.