Famous New Mexico rock formation destroyed after torrential El Niño rains
Summary
Heavy rains and flooding in north-west New Mexico were followed by the collapse of the Alien Throne, a well-known rock spire near the Valley of Dreams trail. Tour guide Kialo Winters said another nearby formation, the King of Wings, was also damaged, though reports indicate it may have broken before the heaviest rains; the cause of the Alien Throne’s collapse has not been confirmed.Key Facts
- Kialo Winters discovered the Alien Throne broken into pieces while leading a tour on 30 October.
- The formation is near the Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness on Navajo Nation land.
- Winters has guided tours in the region for 13 years through Navajo Tours USA, a company he founded.
- Winters said the King of Wings, another nearby rock formation, was also damaged.
- Posts on the AllTrails hiking website suggested the King of Wings broke before 9 October, before the intense rains.
- Flooding in north-west New Mexico led to evacuations and hundreds of water rescues, according to the article.
- The Navajo Nation and the Bureau of Land Management are expected to examine the Alien Throne site to determine the cause of its collapse.
- Winters urged visitors not to climb the damaged formations or take stones from the site.
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