Red Rock Canyon: P1

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

Red Rock Canyon is located about 15 miles west of Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. The conservation area showcases a set of large red sandstone peaks and walls called the Keystone Thrust. The walls are up to 3,000 ft (1,000 m) high, making them a popular hiking and rock climbing destination. The highest point is La Madre Mountain, at 8,154 ft (2,485 m).

Calico Hills, Red Rock Canyon.
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The Red Rock area was located under a deep ocean basin during the Paleozoic Era 600 million years ago. Sediments up to 9,000 feet thick were deposited, and eventually lithified. This sediment eventually formed into limestone. By 180 million years ago, the climate changed and the area became a desert featuring vast expanses of huge shifting sand dunes. These dunes would pile up and were lithified. Around 65 million years ago, the Keystone Thrust Fault developed, The movement of this fault forced the older grey sedimentary rock over the younger red rocks, forming the striking red line that can be seen in the mountain today.

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