As we drove westward along Interstate 40 last week, I could not help but notice a prominent wall of red sandstone that loomed north of the highway between Prewitt and Church Rock, New Mexico. Naturally, I was anxious to learn about this attractive geologic and geographic feature.
After a bit of research, I discovered that the wall is composed of Jurassic Entrada Sandstone, the same rock that forms the arches in Arches National Park. Perhaps of more interest, this wall (which appeared to be at least 100 feet high) represents the southern margin of the Colorado Plateau. The latter, a province of colorful mesas, canyons and rock formations, stretches across the Four Corners Region of the United States.
While many tourists are satisfied with observing the beauty of such natural structures, we naturalists want to understand both their composition and their formation. When they are located outside Parks or Monuments (where such information is usually offered), we are encouraged to do our own research; of course, that effort usually leads to other new knowledge as well.
