圆顶礁国家公园里的希克曼桥，美国犹他州 The Hickman Bridge at Capitol Reef National Park, Utah (© Tim Fitzharris/Minden Pictures)

圆顶礁国家公园里的希克曼桥，美国犹他州 The Hickman Bridge at Capitol Reef National Park, Utah (© Tim Fitzharris/Minden Pictures)

走上这条人迹常见的小径 Take the trail more traveled by

Happy Birthday Capitol Reef National Park

You won't find a lot of solitude on the Hickman Bridge Trail, a 1.7-mile route in Capitol Reef National Park that leads to this magnificent natural arch. The trail is used by hikers, runners, and nature lovers drawn by incredible rock formations, gullies, and remnants from the Fremont Culture Native American civilization from the early part of the 20th century. Hickman Bridge itself is one of the best-known geologic features of the park.

Capitol Reef National Park was first established as a national monument on this day in 1937, then became a national park in 1971. Capitol Reef is named for its massive rock domes that reminded nearby residents of that famous rotunda of the US Capitol Building back in Washington, DC. Why Capitol 'Reef,' though? Because the imposing formations were major obstacles to travelers through the region, the same way a coral reef is an obstacle to sailors.

The geology of the park is defined by the nearly 100-mile Waterpocket Fold, a wrinkle in the Earth's crust that formed around the end of the dinosaur era. Wind, rain, and time have eroded the Navajo Sandstone into colorful canyons, buttes, and natural arches like Hickman Bridge. The dramatic rock formations make Capitol Reef a favorite destination in the American West.

生日快乐国会山珊瑚礁国家公园

在希克曼大桥小径上你不会发现太多的孤独，这条小径位于国会山礁国家公园，全长1.7英里，通往这座宏伟的天然拱门。这条小径供远足者、跑步者和自然爱好者使用，它们由难以置信的岩层、沟壑和20世纪早期弗里蒙特文化-美洲原住民文明的遗迹绘制而成。希克曼大桥本身就是公园最著名的地质特征之一。

国会山礁国家公园于1937年的今天首次作为国家纪念碑建立，然后在1971年成为国家公园。国会山礁以其巨大的岩石圆顶而命名，这让附近的居民想起了位于华盛顿特区的美国国会大厦的著名圆形大厅。然而，为什么国会大厦是“暗礁”？因为壮观的地形是该地区旅行者的主要障碍，就像珊瑚礁是水手的障碍一样。

公园的地质特征是近100英里的水袋褶皱，这是在恐龙时代末期形成的地壳褶皱。风、雨和时间把纳瓦霍砂岩侵蚀成了五颜六色的峡谷、山丘和希克曼大桥那样的天然拱门。引人注目的岩层使国会山礁成为美国西部最受欢迎的目的地。