In ancient times, Zion was a flat basin in a shallow sea. Sand, mud, silt, and gravel from surrounding mountains flowed into the basin, laying down layer upon layer. Time passed, climates changed, flood washed over the land, desert sand blew in, and the earth rose and was worn down. All these occurances are recorded in Zion Canyon's massive walls. In this picture one can see the deposited layers or "pages" of time. Note how level the each layer is. Although there is uplift occuring, it is not the chaotic forces seen in other places. In Zion National Park the upward forces are slow and steady, gently pushing Zion from sea level to nearly 10,000 feet over the eons.
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