D1144 Monument Valley Mesa Sunset Clouds 400x300

A lone mesa in Monument Valley stands in silhouette against a brilliant sunset.

Monument Valley is an area of the Southwest United States on the southern border of Utah and northern border of Arizona. The valley is near the Four Corners and within the Navajo Reservation. Cliff, butte and mesa are but a few of the red sandstone features found in the arid valley, geologically part of the Colorado Plateau which also contains the Grand Canyon. The dry climate of the valley averages less than 5 inches of rain annually.

The desert environment is remote and rugged terrain, however since the valley has been depicted in countless Western films, the barren landscape has become a major tourist destination and landmark. Although Monument Valley is in only a relatively small area, the striking landscape has become an icon of the pioneer settlers, cowboys and Native Americans of the 19th century Wild West.