Canyon de Chelly National Monument

Canyon de Chelly National Monument (/dəˈʃeɪ/ də-SHAY) was established on April 1, 1931, as a unit of the National Park Service. Located in northeastern Arizona, it is within the boundaries of the Navajo Nation and lies in the Four Corners region. Reflecting one of the longest continuously inhabited landscapes of North America, it preserves ruins of the indigenous tribes that lived in the area, from the Ancestral Puebloans (also known as the Anasazi) to the Navajo. The monument covers 83,840 acres (131 sq mi; 339 km2) and encompasses the floors and rims of the three major canyons: de Chelly, del Muerto, and Monument. These canyons were cut by streams with headwaters in the Chuska Mountains just to the east of the monument. None of the land is federally owned.[5] Canyon de Chelly is one of the most visited national monuments in the United States.[6]

"Spider Rock" redirects here. Not to be confused with rock spider.

Canyon de Chelly National Monument
Canyon de Chelly, 1904, by Edward S. Curtis
Map showing the location of Canyon de Chelly National Monument
Map showing the location of Canyon de Chelly National Monument
Location in the United States
Map showing the location of Canyon de Chelly National Monument
Map showing the location of Canyon de Chelly National Monument
Location in Arizona
LocationApache County, Arizona
Nearest cityChinle
Coordinates36.155281°N 109.508995°W / 36.155281; -109.508995[1]
Area83,840 acres (339.3 km2)[2]
CreatedApril 1, 1931 (1931-April-01)
Visitors439,306 (in 2018)[3]
Governing bodyBureau of Indian Affairs
WebsiteCanyon de Chelly National Monument
NRHP reference No.70000066
Added to NRHPAugust 25, 1970[4]

Etymology

The name Chelly is a Spanish borrowing of the Navajo word Tséyiʼ (or Tsegi), which means "rock canyon"[7][8] (literally "inside the rock" < tsé "rock" + -yiʼ "inside of, within"). The Navajo pronunciation is [tséɣiʔ]. The Spanish pronunciation of de Chelly [deˈtʃeʎi] was adapted into English, apparently modeled on a French-like spelling pronunciation, and is now /dəˈʃeɪ/ də-SHAY.

History
Further information: Battle of Canyon de Chelly

Canyon de Chelly long served as a home for Navajo people before it was invaded by forces led by future New Mexico governor Lt. Antonio Narbona in 1805. In 1863, Col. Kit Carson sent troops through the canyon, killing 23 Navajo, seizing 200 sheep, and destroying hogans, as well as peach orchards and other crops. The resulting demoralization led to the surrender of the Navajos and their removal to Bosque Redondo, New Mexico.[9]

Description

Canyon de Chelly is entirely owned by the Navajo Tribal Trust of the Navajo Nation. It is the only National Park Service unit that is owned and cooperatively managed in this manner.[10][11] About 40 Navajo families live in the park.[12] Access to the canyon floor is restricted, and visitors are allowed to travel in the canyons only when accompanied by a park ranger or an authorized Navajo guide.[13] The only exception to this rule is the White House Ruin Trail, however this trail has been closed until further notice since March 2020.[14]

Spider Rock

The park's distinctive geologic feature, Spider Rock, is a sandstone spire that rises 750 feet (229 m) from the canyon floor at the junction of Canyon de Chelly and Monument Canyon. Spider Rock can be seen from South Rim Drive. It has served as the scene of a number of television commercials. According to traditional Navajo beliefs, the taller of the two spires is the home of Spider Grandmother.[15]

Most park visitors arrive by automobile and view Canyon de Chelly from the rim, following both North Rim Drive and South Rim Drive. Ancient ruins and geologic structures are visible, but in the distance, from turnoffs on each of these routes. Deep within the park is Mummy Cave. It features structures that have been built at various times in history. Private Navajo-owned companies offer tours of the canyon floor by horseback, hiking or four-wheel drive vehicle. The companies can be contacted directly for prices and arrangements. No entrance fee is charged to enter the park, apart from any charges imposed by tour companies.

Accommodations for visitors are located in the vicinity of the canyon, on the road leading to Chinle, which is the nearest town.

The National Monument was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 25, 1970.[4]

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Canyon de Chelly has a cold semi-arid climate, abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps. The hottest temperature recorded in Canyon de Chelly was 105 °F (40.6 °C) on July 2, 2002, July 14, 2003, and June 21, 2016, while the coldest temperature recorded was −32 °F (−35.6 °C) on January 2, 1919.[16]

Climate data for Canyon de Chelly, Arizona, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1908–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 70
(21)		 72
(22)		 85
(29)		 90
(32)		 101
(38)		 105
(41)		 105
(41)		 102
(39)		 99
(37)		 90
(32)		 79
(26)		 69
(21)		 105
(41)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 57.3
(14.1)		 64.1
(17.8)		 74.6
(23.7)		 82.6
(28.1)		 91.3
(32.9)		 99.4
(37.4)		 100.9
(38.3)		 96.9
(36.1)		 92.4
(33.6)		 83.4
(28.6)		 69.8
(21.0)		 58.8
(14.9)		 101.5
(38.6)
Average high °F (°C) 43.8
(6.6)		 50.6
(10.3)		 60.7
(15.9)		 68.9
(20.5)		 79.0
(26.1)		 90.0
(32.2)		 92.9
(33.8)		 89.7
(32.1)		 82.7
(28.2)		 69.9
(21.1)		 55.5
(13.1)		 43.3
(6.3)		 68.9
(20.5)
Daily mean °F (°C) 31.4
(−0.3)		 37.1
(2.8)		 45.0
(7.2)		 52.4
(11.3)		 61.4
(16.3)		 71.3
(21.8)		 76.5
(24.7)		 74.2
(23.4)		 66.2
(19.0)		 53.7
(12.1)		 41.0
(5.0)		 31.4
(−0.3)		 53.5
(11.9)
Average low °F (°C) 19.0
(−7.2)		 23.6
(−4.7)		 29.2
(−1.6)		 35.8
(2.1)		 43.7
(6.5)		 52.5
(11.4)		 60.2
(15.7)		 58.8
(14.9)		 49.8
(9.9)		 37.5
(3.1)		 26.5
(−3.1)		 19.6
(−6.9)		 38.0
(3.3)
Mean minimum °F (°C) 5.2
(−14.9)		 10.3
(−12.1)		 17.1
(−8.3)		 22.9
(−5.1)		 31.3
(−0.4)		 40.1
(4.5)		 51.9
(11.1)		 51.4
(10.8)		 36.1
(2.3)		 24.2
(−4.3)		 12.1
(−11.1)		 5.0
(−15.0)		 1.2
(−17.1)
Record low °F (°C) −32
(−36)		 −22
(−30)		 1
(−17)		 9
(−13)		 10
(−12)		 20
(−7)		 38
(3)		 38
(3)		 23
(−5)		 10
(−12)		 −3
(−19)		 −27
(−33)		 −32
(−36)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.76
(19)		 0.73
(19)		 0.65
(17)		 0.48
(12)		 0.51
(13)		 0.27
(6.9)		 1.07
(27)		 1.30
(33)		 0.85
(22)		 0.83
(21)		 0.58
(15)		 0.72
(18)		 8.75
(222.9)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 1.1
(2.8)		 0.9
(2.3)		 0.6
(1.5)		 0.1
(0.25)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.1
(0.25)		 0.6
(1.5)		 1.5
(3.8)		 4.9
(12.4)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 4.4 4.7 4.1 3.1 2.8 1.7 6.3 6.9 5.2 4.1 3.5 4.8 51.6
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 0.8 0.7 0.7 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.4 1.0 3.8
Source 1: NOAA[17]
Source 2: National Weather Service[16]
  • White House Ruin
    White House Ruin
  • Antelope House Ruin
    Antelope House Ruin
  • Massacre Cave
    Massacre Cave
  • Snow at the canyon, with Mummy Cave in the background
    Snow at the canyon, with Mummy Cave in the background
  • First Ruin
    First Ruin
  • White House Ruin, Timothy H. O'Sullivan, 1873
    White House Ruin, Timothy H. O'Sullivan, 1873
  • Aerial view
    Aerial view
  • Park map
    Park map

See also

References
  1. "Canyon de Chelly National Monument". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved June 29, 2011.
  2. "Listing of acreage – December 31, 2013" (XLSX). Land Resource Division, National Park Service. Retrieved March 28, 2014. (National Park Service Acreage Reports)
  3. "NPS Annual Recreation Visits Report". National Park Service. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  4. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  5. "The National Parks: Index 2009–2011". National Park Service. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved June 29, 2011.
  6. "America's 20 most-visited National Monuments". Los Angeles Times.
  7. Chinle, Mailing Address: P. O. Box 588; Us, AZ 86503 Phone: 928 674-5500 Contact. "History & Culture - Canyon de Chelly National Monument (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  8. "Canyon de Chelly National Monument Brochure" (PDF). npshistory.com. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  9. Utley, Robert Marshall (1981). Frontiersmen in Blue: The United States Army and the Indian, 1848–1865. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press. p. 243. ISBN 978-0803295506. OCLC 1070353570. Retrieved August 5, 2017.
  10. Brugge, David M.; Wilson, Raymond (1976). Administrative History: Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Arizona. National Park Service. OCLC 2820029.
  11. "Planning Your Visit (brochure)" (PDF). Canyon de Chelly National Monument. National Park Service. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  12. "History & Culture". Canyon de Chelly National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved January 24, 2013.
  13. Egan, Timothy (June 16, 2011). "The Best Unknown Park in America". New York Times.
  14. "Alerts & Conditions - Canyon de Chelly National Monument (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. National Park Service. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  15. Tobert, Natalie; Pitt, Fiona (1994). Taylor, Colin F. (ed.). Native American Myths and Legends. Salamander Books Ltd. p. 35. ISBN 978-0929050577. OCLC 35878585.
  16. "NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Flagstaff". National Weather Service. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  17. "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Canyon de Chelly, AZ". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
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