Mountains and Canyons, Utah

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This black and white image captures a backlit view of the distant Henry Mountains as seen from within Canyonlands National Park in Utah. Established in 1964, this national park protects canyons of the Green and Colorado rivers, and includes some of the most spectacular scenery in the United States. The Henry Mountains were named by John Wesley Powell in honor of Joseph Henry, the first secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. This was the last mountain range to be added to the map of the 48 contiguous states. Before their official naming by Powell, the Henry Mountains were often referred to as the "Unknown Mountains." Even today these mountains are considered extremely remote. The Henry Mountains are the home of a free-roaming herd of over 200 American bison that are descendents of 18 animals transplanted from Yellowstone National Park in 1941.