Table of Contents
- 1 Why is it called Canyon de Chelly?
- 2 Why is Canyon de Chelly important to the Navajo?
- 3 What tribe is Canyon de Chelly?
- 4 What Native American tribe lived in the Canyon de Chelly?
- 5 How old are the ruins at Canyon de Chelly?
- 6 How old are the White House Ruins?
- 7 What are facts about Antelope ruin in Canyon de Chelly?
- 8 How long is a tour for Canyon de Chelly?
Why is it called Canyon de Chelly?
The name is a Spanish corruption of tsegi, a Navajo word meaning “rock canyons.” The monument, which was established in 1931, occupies 131 square miles (339 square km). The White House Ruin, a cliff dwelling at Canyon de Chelly National Monument, northeastern Arizona.
The canyon has cradled human civilization for thousands of years. Early Puebloans, ancestors of the Hopis, built cliff dwellings high in the sandstone alcoves. And the canyon has been a sacred refuge to the Navajos for centuries.
How did Spider Rock get its name?
That canyon’s best-known feature is Spider Rock, a sandstone spire that rises more than 700 feet from the floor of the canyon. It’s named for Spider Woman, a key figure in Navajo lore. The differential erosion left this tower that is now called Spider Rock behind.”
Where is White House Ruin?
Canyon de Chelly
DIRECTIONS: drive 7 miles east of Chinle, Arizona on Route 7 to the trailhead at White House Overlook. The phrase “White House Overlook” registers in Google Maps. ROUTE: Well maintained, wide trail descends 600ft to the floor of Canyon de Chelly, where the White House Ruin is located on the far side of the canyon.
What tribe is Canyon de Chelly?
the Navajo Nation
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. About 40 Navajo families live in the park.
What Native American tribe lived in the Canyon de Chelly?
Today, Canyon de Chelly sustains a thriving community of Navajo people. A visit to the park provides great insight into the present-day life and rich history of the Navajo community. Visitors to Canyon de Chelly National Monument can observe 1,000 foot sheer sandstone walls and well-preserved Anasazi ruins.
How do you say canyon in Navajo?
The Navajo word for Canyon de Chelly is “Tseyí (Say-yih’)” which means “within the rock walls.” The Spanish heard this word, and tried their best to pronounce it, and we know through their maps and how they spelled the word, that they said something along the lines of Cañon de Chelly (Canyon de Ch-ei-yee).
What is Spider Woman in Navajo?
In Navajo mythology, Spider Woman (Na’ashjé’íí Asdzáá) is the constant helper and protector of humans. Spider Woman is also said to cast her web like a net to capture and eat misbehaving children. She spent time on a rock aptly named spider rock which is said to have been turned white from the bones resting in the sun.
How old are the ruins at Canyon de Chelly?
Canyon de Chelly National Monument (pronounced “canyon d’shay”), contains over 2500 archeological sites ranging from 1500 B.C. to 1350 A.D. and is considered one of the oldest continuously occupied sites in North America.
How old are the White House Ruins?
The Ruins. Construction of the buildings at the White House site began around 1070, and the place is thought to have been abandoned in the late 1300s. The name derives from a whitish band across the nearby cliffs.
Do people still live in Canyon de Chelly?
How did Canyon de Chelly get its name?
Geography & Prehistory . The etymology of Canyon de Chelly’s name is unusual in the U.S. Southwest as it initially appears to resemble French rather than the more ubiquitous Spanish. “Chelly” is actually derived from the Navajo word tseg, which means “rock canyon” or “in a canyon.”.
What are facts about Antelope ruin in Canyon de Chelly?
The Antelope House Ruin in Chinle, Arizona exists of ancient ruins set in a secretive alcove near the canyon floor overlooking the Canyon de Chelly National Monument. The entire complex is made up of two main building areas that border a central type plaza structure.
How long is a tour for Canyon de Chelly?
The all day tour leaves at 9:00am and lasts approximately 8 hours . The first canyon for the day is Canyon De Chelly and includes the highlights of Spider Rock and White House Ruins. You will travel the full length of Canyon De Chelly, traveling to the base of the towering 800 foot monolith of Spider Rock, where canyon walls rise over 1000 feet. White House Ruins and many other ruins are along the way in the lower canyon.