Editing Bryce Canyon National Park (section)

==Geology==
{{Main|Geology of the Bryce Canyon area}}
[[File:Natural bridge in Bryce Canyon.jpg|alt=A large opening in red rock with snow on top|thumb|Erosion of [[sedimentary rock]]s has created natural arches]]

The Bryce Canyon area experienced soil deposition that spans from the last part of the [[Cretaceous]] period and the first half of the [[Cenozoic]] era. The ancient [[Sedimentary depositional environment|depositional environment]] varied. [[Dakota Formation|Dakota Sandstone]] and Tropic Shale were deposited in the warm, shallow waters of the advancing and retreating [[Western Interior Seaway|Cretaceous Seaway]] (outcrops of these rocks are found just outside park borders).<ref name="Harris1997p51">{{Harvard citation no brackets|Harris|1997|p=51}}</ref>

Other formations were created, but mostly [[erosion|eroded]] away following two major periods of uplift. The [[Laramide orogeny]] affected the entire western part of what would become North America starting about 70&nbsp;million to 50&nbsp;MYA.<ref name="Kiver1999p524"/> This event helped to build the [[Rocky Mountains]] and in the process closed the Cretaceous Seaway. The [[Straight Cliffs Formation|Straight Cliffs]], [[Wahweap Formation|Wahweap]], and [[Kaiparowits Formation|Kaiparowits formations]] were victims of this uplift. The [[Colorado Plateau]]s rose 16&nbsp;MYA and were segmented into [[plateau]]s, separated by [[fault (geology)|faults]] and each having its own uplift rate.<ref name="Harris1997p53">{{Harvard citation no brackets|Harris|1997|p=53}}</ref>
[[File:Thor's Hammer - Bryce Canyon.jpg|300px|alt=Thor's Hammer|thumb|left|Thor's Hammer]]

This uplift created vertical joints, which over time preferentially eroded. The soft Pink Cliffs of the [[Claron Formation]] eroded to form freestanding hoodoo pinnacles in [[badlands]], while the more resistant White Cliffs formed monoliths.<ref name="Harris1997p46"/> The dominant bright orange colors are from [[hematite]] (iron oxide; {{chem2|Fe2O3}}); the yellows from [[limonite]] ({{chem2|FeO(OH)*''n''H2O}}); and the purples are from [[pyrolusite]] ({{chem2|MnO2}}).<ref name="Harris1997p50">{{Harvard citation no brackets|Harris|1997|p=50}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Geology of Bryce Canyon National Park |url=https://www.usgs.gov/geology-and-ecology-of-national-parks/geology-bryce-canyon-national-park |website=Geology and Ecology of National Parks |publisher=USGS |access-date=September 8, 2024 |archive-date=September 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240911072604/https://www.usgs.gov/geology-and-ecology-of-national-parks/geology-bryce-canyon-national-park |url-status=live }}</ref>