Colorado Plateau

There are nine national parks within the Colorado Plateau, which straddles the corners of four south-western states, and many national monuments, most of which are striking geological features, such as multi-coloured cliffs (giving this region its alternative name of the 'Painted Desert'), bridges and immense monoliths. The Grand Canyon is to be found here, over a mile deep, its layers displaying more than two billion years' worth of history, and the incredible Cliff Palace, inexplicably abandoned in 1300 and accidentally rediscovered by cowboys.