Located on the Colorado River, Lake Powell is a man-made reservoir straddling the borders of Utah and Colorado. Through the flooding of Glen Canyon, it was created, was named for the explorer Jon Wesley Powell, who explored the Colorado River in three wooden boats in 1869. Lake Powell is public land managed by the National Park Service, and is available to the public for recreational purposes. Lake Powell is often argued as one of the most scenic reservoirs in America, located in part of Southern Utah's finest red-rock desert country. It is second in size only to Lake Mead, situated farther downstream. Although Lake Powell provides zero water to any municipalities or farms or industries save for the tiny burg of Page, Arizona, it was created to merely hold water at an invisible line created through politics and the 1922 Compact of the Colorado River. The reservoir continues to be a controversial issue for many Americans.

Today, Arches National Park preserves over 2,000 natural sandstone arches, most notably the world-famous Delicate Arch, in addition to many other unusual rock formations. It has been discovered that in some areas, the extraordinary features of the park create a landscape of contrasting colors, landforms and textures that is unlike any other in the world.

Arches National Park is also famous for red arches of Entrada sandstone that have occurred in great numbers throughout the park. There are many striking rock formations scattered over the park's 73,000 scenic acres, and to see the whole area takes several days. Temperatures in Arches National Park often reach 110°F which can restrict hiking activities, although during the summer, frequent cooling afternoon thunderstorms help to moderate the temperature.

Delicate Arch, Arches National Park
Attraction type: Geological formation; Landmark/point of interest

Devils Garden Trailhead, Arches National Park
Attraction type: Hiking trail

Park Avenue Trail, Arches National Park
Attraction type: Hiking trail

Fiery Furnace, Arches National Park
Attraction type: Hiking trail; Geological formation

Sand Dune Arch, Arches National Park
Attraction type: Geological formation

Windows, Arches National Park
Attraction type: Geological formation

Double Arch, Arches National Park
Attraction type: Geological formation

Tower of Babel, Arches National Park
Attraction type: Geological formation

Double O Arch, Arches National Park
Attraction type: Geological formation