Buttes, Plateaus and Mesas- What’s the Difference?
The images below shot last week along the Arizona/Utah border show buttes, plateaus and mesas, geologic land forms that permeate America’s Desert Southwest. In general terms, buttes are smaller than mesas and mesas are smaller than plateaus. Buttes were probably once mesas but shrunk in size due to erosion. Plateaus are bigger than both mesas and buttes. But specific sizes of each land form are not normally defined.
Mesas, Buttes and Plateaus make up the landscape near Fredonia, Arizona
Storm clouds hover over Gooseberry Mesa in Southern Utah. The smaller hills at the base can be categorized as buttes.
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Desert Flora at Sunset
While mountain biking this week near Gooseberry Mesa in Southern Utah, I captured some pics over a few evenings of the changing colors of the flora and the sunsets.
One Amazing Little Rainbow
Caught this rainbow dancing along the desert floor near Marble Canyon at Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona. It played with the monsoonal clouds passing through to provide some abstract images. A time lapse video of this rainbow and surrounding storms will follow soon. These images are available as prints or downloadable files for personal use at Dawn2dawnPhotography.com
A rainbow appears during a thunderstorm at Marble Canyon at Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona.
Just before the rainbow disappeared.
Colors of The Grand Canyon
Mineral deposits and vegetation produce various colors in The Grand Canyon at Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
Zion Cacti
Images from blooming Prickly Pear Cactus and the sticky Cholla Cactus
Cholla Cactus at Zion National Park, Utah. Also known as Teddy Bear Cactus because it’s so cuddly? Not!
Video
Over Toroweap
A short time lapse video of the scene at Toroweap at The Grand Canyon, Arizona. Watch at Full Screen at HiDef. Music by Martin Courtney.
The Best Images Of 2015- Good Memories
All of these images and many more are available for purchase as prints at dawn2dawn photography. Use promo code Prints25 for a 25% discount. Click on first image below to start slideshow.
A full moon rises above a snow-covered Monument Valley, Arizona
A passing storm produces high surf along California’s Pacific Ocean Coastline near Big Sur
Ice plant, in its fall colors, grows along the Pacific Ocean Coastline in Central California
A California Condor flies along the Central Califonia Coastline near Big Sur
Lightning strikes near a small town in Northern Arizona
Four-Wheeling near Zion National Park, Utah
A storm approaches Zion National Park through Eagle Crags in Southern Utah
A storm approaches Zion National Park through The Watchman in Southern Utah
Dark clouds hover over Zion Canyon at Zion National Park, Utah
Lightning strikes The Watchman at Zion National Park, Utah
Fresh snow has fallen during autumn at Zion National Park
The Virgin River cuts through The Narrows at Zion National Park, Utah
The Virgin River cuts through The Narrows at Zion National Park, Utah
The Virgin River cuts through The Narrows at Zion National Park, Utah
The landscape is reflected in the still waters of the potholes on the Many Pools Trail at Zion National Park, Utah
The landscape is reflected in the still waters of the potholes on the Many Pools Trail at Zion National Park, Utah
Reflecting pot hole along the Many Pools Trail at Zion National Park, Utah
The full moon rises at Zion National Park, Utah
Fall colors have arrived at Kolob Terrace near Zion National Park, Utah
Fall colors have arrived at Kolob Terrace near Zion National Park, Utah
Fall colors have arrived along the Virgin River in Zion Canyon at Zion National Park, Utah
Fall colors have arrived along the Virgin River in Zion Canyon at Zion National Park, Utah
Fall colors have arrived at Zion Canyon at Zion National Park, Utah
Fall colors have arrived at Echo Canyon at Zion National Park, Utah
Fall colors have arrived at Echo Canyon at Zion National Park, Utah
Fall colors have arrived at Echo Canyon at Zion National Park, Utah
Angel’s Landing at Zion Canyon at Zion National Park, Utah
Fall colors have arrived at Zion Canyon at Zion National Park, Utah
Fall colors have arrived at Zion Canyon at Zion National Park, Utah
Fall colors have arrived at Zion Canyon at Zion National Park, Utah
Fall colors have arrived at Zion Canyon at Zion National Park, Utah
Fall colors have arrived at Zion Canyon at Zion National Park, Utah
Fall colors have arrived along the Virgin River in Zion Canyon at Zion National Park, Utah
Fall colors have arrived along the Virgin River in Zion Canyon at Zion National Park, Utah
Fall colors have arrived at Zion Canyon at Zion National Park, Utah
A monsoonal storm approaches Zion National Park, Utah
Heavy rains produce waterfalls at Emerald Pools at Zion National Park, Utah
Passing storms bring rain and fog to the Eagle Crags just outside Zion National Park, Utah
Colorful sandstone rock formations formed through erosion are seen at Cave Valley at the Kolob Terrace section of Zion National Park, Utah
A seasonal waterfall appears out of nowhere at The Temple of Sinawava at Zion National Park, Utah
The sun sets on the sandstone walls of Zion Canyon at Zion National Park, Utah
At Wahweap Hoodoos in Southern Utah
Wildflowers come alive during spring at Wahweap Creek near Big Water, Utah
Wind turbines are numerous and always spinning at Tahachapi California
Lightning strikes near a small town in Northern Arizona
Wildflowers are blooming at South Coyote Buttes at Vermillion Cliffs National Monument, Arizona
Fresh snow cover the high peaks of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, California
Fresh snow cover the high peaks of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, California
Fall colors have arrived in the Sierra Nevada Mountains along Lee Vining Creek, California
Fall colors have arrived to the Sierra Nevada Mountains adjacent to Owens Valley, California
Fall colors have arrived to the Sierra Nevada Mountains along Bishop Creek adjacent to Owens Valley, California
Fall colors have arrived to the Sierra Nevada Mountains adjacent to Owens Valley, California
Fall colors have arrived to the Sierra Nevada Mountains adjacent to Owens Valley, California
Giant Sequoia Trees dominate the landscape at Giant Forest at Sequoia National Park, California
Wildflowers are blooming at South Coyote Buttes at Vermillion Cliffs National Monument, Arizona
The setting sun fires up the clouds and landscape near Glen Canyon, Arizona
The sun sets along the California Pacific Coastline
The sun sets along the California Pacific Coastline
The sun sets along the California Pacific Coastline
The sun sets along the California Pacific Coastline
A passing storm drops fresh snow on the Sierras Nevadas at Owens Valley in Eastern California
A passing storm drops fresh snow on the Sierras Nevadas at Owens Valley in Eastern California
The moon rises over a campfire at Alabama Hills in the Owens Valley of California
Fall colors have arrived at Owens Valley in California
A passing storm produces fog and clouds over the Alabama Hills and the Sierras Nevadas in the Owens Valley of California
Passing clouds are reflected in the still waters of Kolob Reservoir near Zion National Park, Utah
Mother Mallard Duck and her ducklings at Kolob Reservoir near Zion National Park, Utah
Wildflowers thrive in the summer at Kaibab National Forest, Arizona
Wildflowers thrive in the summer at Kaibab National Forest, Arizona
Chipmunk at Kaibab National Forest, Arizona
The sun sets on the badlands of Ha Ho No Geh Canyon on the Hopi Indian Reservation, Arizona
Thunderstorms pass through the Grand Canyon at Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
A rainbow appears during a monsoonal thunderstorm near the Grand Canyon in Northern Arizona
A monsoonal storm cell passes through the Northern Arizona landscape near The Grand Canyon.
A rainbow appears during a monsoonal thunderstorm near the Grand Canyon in Northern Arizona
Thunderstorms pass through the Grand Canyon at Point Sublime at Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
The sun sets on the Grand Canyon at Point Imperial
The settting sun forms shadows on the Grand Canyon at Point Imperial
Fog lifts from the bottom of The Grand Canyon from Point Imperial at Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
Passing clouds produce shadows at Marble Canyon at Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
The sun sets behind the pine tree forests of Kaibab National Forest, Arizona
Wildflowers thrive in the summer at Kaibab National Forest, Arizona
Fall colors have arrived by way of the Aspen Trees at Grand Canyon National Park and Kaibab National Forest, Arizona
Fall colors have arrived by way of the Aspen Trees at Grand Canyon National Park and Kaibab National Forest, Arizona
Fall colors have arrived by way of the Aspen Trees at Grand Canyon National Park and Kaibab National Forest, Arizona
A campfire brings warmth to a camper overlooking Grand Canyon National Park from Kaibab National Forest, Arizona
Cactus wildflowers are blooming at South Coyote Buttes at Vermillion Cliffs National Monument, Arizona
An Elephant Seal at play along California’s Pacific Ocean Coastline
The sun sets on the moving rocks at Racetrack Playa at Death Valley National Park
Joshua Trees at Death Valley National Park, California
Storm clouds threaten Eureka Valley at Death Valley National Park, California
The sagebrush and desert landscape at Eureka Dunes at Death Valley National Park, California
Shifting patterns and lines of sand at the Eureka Dunes at Death Valley National Park, California
Storm clouds pass over Eureka Dunes at Death Valley National Park, California
Storm clouds pass over two hikers on Eureka Dunes at Death Valley National Park, California
Bright colors and tall rock formations make up the landscape at Coal Mine Canyon on the Hopi Indian Reservation in Northern Arizona
The Canyon Tree Frog at the Many Pools Trail at Zion National Park, Utah
Waves crash upon the rocky California Coastline
McWay Falls at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Beach along the California Coastline near Big Sur
Flowers bloom along the California Coastline near Big Sur
Flowers bloom along the California Coastline near San Simeon
A passing storm produces high surf along California’s Pacific Ocean Coastline near Carmel
A passing storm produces high surf along California’s Pacific Ocean Coastline near Big Sur
Ice plant, in its fall colors, grows along the Pacific Ocean Coastline in Central California
A passing storm produces high surf along California’s Pacific Ocean Coastline near Big Sur
The sun sets over the Pacific Ocean near Big Sur, California
Point Imperial Revisited
You may have remembered my shots from Point Imperial at The Grand Canyon where layers of fog were rising from the canyon depths. See Foggy Point Imperial. This time I was there for sunset and the light did not disappoint.
