Article • Values Embodied in Geoheritage

Aesthetic Value

View from Mesa Arch at sunrise
View from Mesa Arch at sunrise in Canyonlands National Park, Arizona.

Photo by Robert D. Wood.

Introduction

One of the best ways to appreciate the beauty of our geoheritage is by viewing and experiencing it firsthand. Generations of Americans have ventured to our parks, monuments, and other geoheritage areas to be inspired by the natural beauty, often simply termed its “scenery.”

The National Park Service Organic Act of 1916 specifically calls for the National Park Service to “conserve the scenery” for the “enjoyment of future generations.” The geologic history of America has created a spectacular geodiversity—landscapes the likes of which, in many cases, are found nowhere else on the planet. From hikers, hunters, and vacationers, to artists, poets, and musicians, many people find meaning and inspiration in the strikingly beautiful features of our geologic heritage.

Aesthetic Value at a Glance


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Park Stories

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  • Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

    Horseshoe Bend on the Colorado River

    Sandstone cliffs surrounding a circular curve in river

    Below the rim, the Colorado River makes a wide sweep around a sandstone escarpment. Here at Horseshoe Bend, the Colorado River created a roughly 1,000 foot (305 m) deep, 270º horseshoe-shaped bend in Glen Canyon.

  • Grand Canyon National Park

    Yavapai Geology Museum

    A rustic stone building with large windows on the edge of a cliff overlooking a canyon.

    Open daily: 8 am - 7 pm. Yavapai Geology Museum offers one of the best vantage points for an overview of Grand Canyon geology. The building is right on the very edge of the canyon rim at Yavapai Point, The Museum Features: a bookstore and museum shop, large picture windows for viewing the canyon, and a variety of exhibits about the geology of Grand Canyon. Restrooms are in a separate building adjacent to the parking lot. The shuttle bus stop is also on the parking lot.


Part of a series of articles titled Values Embodied in Geoheritage.

Last updated: December 21, 2020