Nevada's surreal Valley of Fire by Gerry van Roosmalen

Just after sunset, we arrived in the Valley of Fire. It was a long day after a short night. We saw the area in all its glory the next pass. To us, it was a surreal landscape full of surprises.

The Valley of Fire consists of bright red Aztec sandstone formations set among grey and beige limestone mountains. The sandstone dates back to the Jurassic period and is a remnant of sand left by the wind after the inland seas retreated and the land rose. As early as 11,000 years ago, early humans settled in southern Nevada. The most striking evidence of habitation are the petroglyphs (petroglyphs) carved into the rocks by the Basketmaker culture about 2,500 years ago, later followed by the early Pueblo culture. Around 1865, the Paiutes lived in the area when the Mormons settled in nearby St Thomas, at the southern end of the Moapa Valley. Agriculture, ranching and mining took place in the region along a narrow stretch of water.

In 1912, a rough road was built through this area as part of the Arrowhead Trail, which connected Salt Lake City to Los Angeles. This road made it possible to travel through what later became known as the Valley of Fire. In the 1920s, the valley got its name, coined by an AAA (American Automobile Association) employee who travelled through the park during sunset. This person is said to have said that the whole valley looked like it was on fire; hence the name. At the same time, the archaeological value and recreational potential of the area were also recognised. About 3,400 hectares of the original federal territory of the Valley of Fire was then transferred to the state of Nevada.