말굽 협곡 - Horseshoe Bend

 

굽이치는 Colorado 강이 만든 예술이라고 불리는 말굽 협곡-Horseshoe Bend. 청록색으로 빛나며 유유히 흐르고 있는 강..... 정말로 자연의 위대함을 다시 확인시켜 주는 곳이다.

Colorado 강이 270도 휘어져서 U 자 모양으로 흘러가면서 마치 말밥굽을 닮았다하여 말굽 협곡-Horseshoe Bend라는 이름을 가지게 되었다. Glen Canyon Dam 에서 빠져나온 Colorado 강물은 오른쪽에서 흘러 들어와서 앞쪽으로 빙둘러서 왼쪽으로 급격하게

굽이쳐 나가서 Grand Canyon 으로 흘러간다.

 

Horseshoe Bend is a horseshoe-shaped incised meander of the Colorado River located near the town of Page, Arizona, United States. It is also referred to as the "east rim of the Grand Canyon."

Horseshoe Bend is located 5 miles (8 km) downstream from the Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell within Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, about 4 miles (6 km) southwest of Page.

It is accessible via hiking a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) round trip from a parking area just off U.S. Route 89 within southwestern Page. The land south of the Bend's parking area, trail, and overlook are on the Navajo Nation territory.

Horseshoe Bend is popular just before sunset, as large groups of tourists make the 1/2 mile long hike down to the overlook point. Horseshoe Bend can be viewed from the steep cliff above.

The overlook is 4,200 feet (1,300 m) above sea level, and the Colorado River is at 3,200 feet (1,000 m) above sea level, making it a 1,000-foot (300 m) drop.