Trace Chiricahua's stone spires back to their volcanic origins
Roughly 27 million years ago, eruptions laid down Chiricahua’s volcanic deposits. NASA explains how subsequent weathering and erosion shaped the park’s spires and canyons.
What happened
NASA’s latest Earth Observatory feature traces Chiricahua’s rock formations to volcanic eruptions roughly 27 million years ago. Weathering and erosion later shaped the region’s hardened volcanic deposits into spires and canyons.
The article presents Landsat 9 imagery captured on July 2, 2026, and notes the area’s redesignation as a national park in October. The image acquisition date is separate from the feature’s October 28 publication date.
Sources and method
The Land of the Standing-Up Rocks ↗
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