Painted Desert is the name for a broad area of badlands located in Northern Arizona in the United States. The desert stretches from the Grand Canyon National Park into the Petrified Forest National Park.

The popular name for the desert comes from the Colonial Spanish who are said to have named it El Desierto Pintado due to its brightly colored landscape.

The desert is composed of stratified layers of easily erodible siltstones, mudstones and shales of the Triassic Chinile Formation. These fine grained rock layers contain abundant iron and manganese compounds which provide the pigments for the various colors of the region.

just say:great! kpnitz · 2010-05-05: 04:22

Nice to see these shots since I just took that one 'from the road' on our return trip... good to see what I didn't see! DancingDolphin · 2010-05-05: 18:23

Awesome shots, can't pick a fav but love from 10 on..:-) NellyBly · 2010-05-05: 21:03

I was there years ago, you photos make me want to return! HoosierAtHeART · 2010-05-05: 21:28

Wunderschöne Landschaftsbilder. ????? · 2010-05-06: 04:10

#2 is my favorite but HOW GORGEOUS! thanks for your comments as well. borgoallegri · 2010-05-06: 23:32

I love the Southwest, the Weather, the People, the Colors, The Canyon !! Great Shots !! cd catdad · 2010-05-10: 00:50

Your right painted desert and you captured it beautifully! DoyouseewhatIsee · 2010-05-16: 14:24

Fantastic, love it, we have similar shots. ????? · 2010-09-29: 22:45