Zion National Park Metal Magnet

The Virgin River hardly ranks among the West’s larger stream flows. But its importance to this southwest Utah wonder cannot be overstated. The river’s North and East forks drop steeply, giving them extraordinary erosion power as they flow through Zion, carving many of the park’s awe-inspiring sandstone landforms and the unforgettable Zion Canyon itself. The Virgin River also serves as a watery desert oasis that nurtures extensive populations of animals and plants.