Red sandstone interior of Lower Antelope Canyon, Arizona, worn smooth by erosion due to flash flooding and wind over millions of years. Antelope Canyon is one of the best-known and most photographed slot canyons in the world. The flash floods that created the canyon are a danger to tourists. Rain does not have to fall on or near the area for flash floods to whip through, as rain falling dozens of miles away 'upstream' of the canyons can funnel into them with little warning. On 12 August 1997, eleven tourists in Lower Antelope Canyon were killed by a flash flood. Very little rain fell at the site that day. Photo credit: moondigger |