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Looking south to the Temple of the Sun from the local access road in Capitol Reef National Park. Temple of
the Moon in the lower left corner. Temple of the sun is 500
feet tall, composed of
sandstone and siltstone with a good amount of iron oxide.
The iron oxide content in the rock generates the reddish-brown
color.
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Close-up of the base of Temple of the Sun. The formation
in the lower left is a part of a several mile long 500 foot high east-west
running escarpment composed of similar materials. The general
area is call Cathedral Valley.
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Zoomed view looking southwest from the Temple of the Sun toward
the east-west running escarpment to the south.
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View south from Glass Mountain to Temple of the Sun.
Glass Mountain is composed of selenite crystals that are a
form of gypsum. Ground water flow created the crystals
and erosion of the surrounding entrada sandstone exposed the
formation.
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Another view of Glass Mountain with wildflowers (Globe Mallow). Glass Mountain is
composed of unusually large selenite crystals.
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Close-up view of the selenite crystals that form the structure
of Glass Mountain. Glass Mountain is located just north from
The Temple of the Sun in Capitol Reef National Park.
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