Painted Desert ( Arizona ) - wikipedia Painted Desert ( Arizona ) For other uses, see Painted Desert ( disambiguation ). Painted Desert ( El Desierto Pintado ) Name origin : ( Colonial Spanish, 1540 ) El Desierto Pintado Country United States State Arizona Part of Colorado Plateau Borders on Little Colorado and Puerco rivers Parts Little Painted Desert County Park ( north of Winslow ) Coordinates 35 ° 30 ′ 01 '' N 110 ° 05 ′ 02 '' W ﻿ / ﻿ 35.50028 ° N 110.08389 ° W ﻿ / 35.50028 ; - 110.08389 Coordinates : 35 ° 30 ′ 01 '' N 110 ° 05 ′ 02 '' W ﻿ / ﻿ 35.50028 ° N 110.08389 ° W ﻿ / 35.50028 ; - 110.08389 Area 7,500 sq mi ( 19,425 km ) Relief map showing arc - shaped desert north and northeast of Mogollon Plateau and Mogollon Rim. The Painted Desert is a United States desert of badlands in the Four Corners area running from near the east end of the Grand Canyon National Park southeast into the Petrified Forest National Park. It is most easily accessed in the north portion of The Petrified Forest National Park. The Painted Desert is known for its brilliant and varied colors, that not only include the more common red rock, but even shades of lavender. The Painted Desert was named by an expedition under Francisco Vázquez de Coronado on his 1540 quest to find the Seven Cities of Cibola, which he located some forty miles east of The Petrified Forest National Park. Finding the cities were not made of gold, Coronado sent an expedition to find the Colorado River to resupply him. Passing through the wonderland of colors, they named the area `` El Desierto Pintado '' - The Painted Desert. Much of the Painted Desert within the Petrified Forest National Park is protected as the Petrified Forest National Wilderness Area where motorized travel is limited. But the park offers both easy and longer hikes into the colored hills. The Painted Desert continues north into the Navajo Nation where off - road travel is by permit. Contents 1 Geology 2 Area and climate 3 Accessibility 4 Gallery 5 See also 6 References 7 External links Geology The desert is composed of stratified layers of easily erodible siltstone, mudstone, and shale of the Triassic Chinle Formation. These fine grained rock layers contain abundant iron and manganese compounds which provide the pigments for the various colors of the region. Thin resistant lacustrine limestone layers and volcanic flows cap the mesas. Numerous layers of silicic volcanic ash occur in the Chinle and provide the silica for the petrified logs of the area. The erosion of these layers has resulted in the formation of the badlands topography of the region. In the southern portions of the desert the remains of a Triassic period coniferous forest have fossilized over millions of years. Wind, water and soil erosion continue to change the face of the landscape by shifting sediment and exposing layers of the Chinle Formation. An assortment of fossilized prehistoric plants and animals are found in the region, as well as dinosaur tracks and the evidence of early human habitation. Area and climate The Painted Desert extends roughly from Cameron -- Tuba City southeast to past Holbrook and the Petrified Forest National Park. The desert is about 120 miles ( 190 km ) long by about 60 miles ( 97 km ) wide, making it roughly 7,500 square miles ( 19,425 km ) in area. Bordering southwest and south is the Mogollon Plateau, and on the plateau 's south border the Mogollon Rim, the north border of the Arizona transition zone. Owing to the strong rain shadow of the Mogollon Rim, the Painted Desert has a cold desert climate ( Köppen BWk ), with hot, dry summers and cold, though virtually snow - free winters. The annual precipitation is the lowest in northern Arizona and in many places is lower even than Phoenix. Climate data for Tuba City, Arizona ( 1971 to 2000 ) Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high ° F ( ° C ) 76 ( 24 ) 76 ( 24 ) 84 ( 29 ) 94 ( 34 ) 100 ( 38 ) 110 ( 43 ) 110 ( 43 ) 108 ( 42 ) 103 ( 39 ) 92 ( 33 ) 80 ( 27 ) 71 ( 22 ) 110 ( 43 ) Average high ° F ( ° C ) 45.4 ( 7.4 ) 53.0 ( 11.7 ) 60.1 ( 15.6 ) 68.3 ( 20.2 ) 77.7 ( 25.4 ) 88.8 ( 31.6 ) 93.4 ( 34.1 ) 90.7 ( 32.6 ) 83.4 ( 28.6 ) 71.9 ( 22.2 ) 56.3 ( 13.5 ) 46.0 ( 7.8 ) 69.6 ( 20.9 ) Daily mean ° F ( ° C ) 33.8 ( 1 ) 39.7 ( 4.3 ) 46.2 ( 7.9 ) 53.2 ( 11.8 ) 62.5 ( 16.9 ) 72.2 ( 22.3 ) 78.0 ( 25.6 ) 75.8 ( 24.3 ) 68.2 ( 20.1 ) 56.4 ( 13.6 ) 43.2 ( 6.2 ) 33.8 ( 1 ) 55.3 ( 12.9 ) Average low ° F ( ° C ) 22.2 ( − 5.4 ) 26.4 ( − 3.1 ) 32.2 ( 0.1 ) 38.0 ( 3.3 ) 47.2 ( 8.4 ) 55.5 ( 13.1 ) 62.5 ( 16.9 ) 60.9 ( 16.1 ) 53.0 ( 11.7 ) 40.8 ( 4.9 ) 30.0 ( − 1.1 ) 21.5 ( − 5.8 ) 40.9 ( 4.9 ) Record low ° F ( ° C ) − 15 ( − 26 ) − 9 ( − 23 ) 5 ( − 15 ) 13 ( − 11 ) 10 ( − 12 ) 30 ( − 1 ) 34 ( 1 ) 40 ( 4 ) 20 ( − 7 ) 11 ( − 12 ) − 4 ( − 20 ) − 13 ( − 25 ) − 15 ( − 26 ) Average precipitation inches ( mm ) 0.55 ( 14 ) 0.52 ( 13.2 ) 0.59 ( 15 ) 0.27 ( 6.9 ) 0.32 ( 8.1 ) 0.17 ( 4.3 ) 0.66 ( 16.8 ) 0.69 ( 17.5 ) 0.98 ( 24.9 ) 0.85 ( 21.6 ) 0.43 ( 10.9 ) 0.32 ( 8.1 ) 6.35 ( 161.3 ) Average snowfall inches ( cm ) 0.8 ( 2 ) 0.8 ( 2 ) 0.1 ( 0.3 ) 0.0 ( 0 ) 0.0 ( 0 ) 0.0 ( 0 ) 0.0 ( 0 ) 0.0 ( 0 ) 0.0 ( 0 ) 0.0 ( 0 ) 0.0 ( 0 ) 0.9 ( 2.3 ) 2.6 ( 6.6 ) Average precipitation days ( ≥ 0.01 inch ) 4.2 3.6 5.3 2.3 3.2 2.3 6.3 6.8 4.7 4.1 3.1 3.6 49.5 Average snowy days ( ≥ 0.1 inch ) 0.6 0.4 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Source : Accessibility Much of the region is accessible only by foot or unpaved road though major highways and paved roads cut across the area. The towns of Cameron and Tuba City, both on the Navajo Nation, are two major settlements. A permit is required for all backroad travel on the Navajo Nation. Gallery The Painted Desert, Petrified Forest National Park The gray and red colored bands across the landform are typical of most geologic features in the Painted Desert. Painted Desert with logs of petrified wood, Petrified Forest National Park Sunset in White Pocket, Vermilion Cliffs National Monument A panoramic view of the Little Painted Desert County Park as seen from Arizona Route 87 See also Painted Hills, Oregon Painted Desert ( South Australia ) References ^ Jump up to : `` Painted Desert ''. Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. February 8, 1980. Retrieved May 5, 2013. ^ Jump up to : Jaeger, Edmund C. The North American Deserts. ( cited by Trimble The Sagebrush Ocean, p. 10 ) Jump up ^ Byrd H. Granger ( 1960 ). Arizona Place Names. University of Arizona Press. p. 18. Retrieved 6 December 2011. Jump up ^ Wilderness camping at NPS Jump up ^ Chronic, Halka, Pages of Stone : Geology of Grand Canyon & Plateau Country National Parks & Monuments, Mountaineers Books ; 2nd ed., 2004, pp. 131 -- 34 ISBN 978 - 0 - 89886 - 680 - 3 Jump up ^ Baars, Donald L., Navajo Country, University of New Mexico Press, 1995 pp. 47 -- 53 ISBN 0 - 8263 - 1587 - 9 Jump up ^ Baars, Donald L., The Colorado Plateau : a Geologic History, University of New Mexico Press, 1983, pp. 163 -- 68 ISBN 0 - 8263 - 0599 - 7 Jump up ^ `` Grand Canyon and Other Spectacular Sights in Arizona '', on-the-matrix.com, ( 1 ) Jump up ^ Arizona Annual Precipitation Map Jump up ^ `` Tuba City, AZ '' ( PDF ). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved March 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Travel Navajo Nation ''. Navajo Nation Parks & Recreation. Retrieved May 5, 2013. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Painted Desert ( Arizona ). Regional map for Navajo Lands Regional Map and Visitor Information for Hopi Lands National Park Services Website - Petrified Forest National Park Geology of the region Grand Canyon and Other Spectacular Sights in Arizona, on-the-matrix.com, ( area of Painted Desert, 7500 sq mi Ecological Subregions of the United States - US Forest Service Petrified Forest Wilderness Area at Wilderness.net World deserts Desert Desertification List of deserts List of deserts by area Africa Algerian Bayuda Blue Chalbi Danakil Djurab Eastern Ferlo Farafra ( White ) Kalahari Libyan Moçâmedes Namib Nubian Nyiri Owami Richtersveld Sahara Tanezrouft Ténéré Western Asia Ad - Dahna Akshi Arabian Aral Karakum Aralkum Badain Jaran Betpak - Dala Cholistan Dasht - e Kavir Dasht - e Khash Dasht - e Leili Dasht - e Loot Dasht - e Margo Dasht - e Naomid Gurbantünggüt Gobi Hami Indus Valley Judaean Karakum Katpana Kharan Kumtag Kyzylkum Liwa Lop Maranjab Muyunkum Nefud Negev Polond Ordos Qaidam Ramlat al - Sab'atayn Rub ' al Khali Russian Arctic Registan Saryesik - Atyrau Syrian Taklamakan Tengger Thal Thar Ustyurt Plateau Wahiba Sands Australia Gibson Great Sandy Great Victoria Little Sandy Nullarbor Plain Painted Pedirka Simpson Strzelecki Sturt 's Stony Tanami Tirari Europe Accona Bardenas Reales Błędów Cabo de Gata Deliblatska Peščara Hálendi Monegros Oleshky Oltenian Sahara Ryn Stranja Tabernas North America Alvord Amargosa Baja California Black Rock Carcross Carson Channeled scablands Chihuahuan Colorado Escalante Forty Mile Gran Desierto de Altar Great Basin Great Salt Lake Great Sandy Jornada del Muerto Kaʻū Lechuguilla Mojave North American Arctic Owyhee Painted Desert Red Desert Sevier Smoke Creek Sonoran Tonopah Desert Tule ( Arizona ) Tule ( Nevada ) Yp Yuha Yuma South America Atacama La Guajira Los Médanos de Coro Monte Patagonian Sechura Tatacoa Oceania Zealandia : Rangipo Desert Polar regions Antarctica Arctic Greenland North American Arctic Russian Arctic Project Commons Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Painted_Desert_(Arizona)&oldid=809431483 '' Categories : Deserts of Arizona Petrified Forest National Park Geography of Apache County, Arizona Geography of Coconino County, Arizona Geography of Navajo County, Arizona Geography of the Navajo Nation Landmarks in Arizona Natural history of Coconino County, Arizona Regions of Arizona Tourist attractions along U.S. Route 66 Tourist attractions in Apache County, Arizona Tourist attractions in Coconino County, Arizona Tourist attractions in Navajo County, Arizona Hidden categories : Coordinates on Wikidata Geobox usage tracking for other type Talk Contents About Wikipedia Azərbaycanca Беларуская Čeština Cymraeg Dansk Deutsch Diné bizaad Español Esperanto Euskara Français Gàidhlig Italiano עברית ქართული Lietuvių Magyar Nederlands Norsk Polski Português Русский Suomi Türkçe Українська 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 9 November 2017, at 01 : 53. 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Question: where is the painted desert located on a map
Answer: the Four Corners area[2] running from near the east end of the Grand Canyon National Park southeast into the Petrified Forest National Park