Nature
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Shiprock is a dramatic volcanic monadnock in the high desert of the Navajo Nation in northwestern New Mexico, rising prominently above the surrounding plain and giving its name to the nearby town. Known in Navajo as Tsé Bitʼaʼí, or “winged rock,” it is the eroded core of an ancient volcano, with radiating igneous dikes formed millions of years ago within the Navajo volcanic field. Beyond its striking geology, Shiprock is deeply sacred in Navajo religion and tradition, tied to stories of migration and sacred beings. Though important in American climbing history, climbing was later banned by the Navajo Nation, and the site was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1975.
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New Mexico · United States
