Canyon De Chelly (pronounced SHAY)

This is the White House Ruin at Canyon De Chelly.  I took this 1.5 mile trail down into the canyon to see this cliff dwelling, inhabited in the 1100s.  The dwelling was constructed into 80 rooms and 4 kivas (ceremonial buildings).  This dwelling was 50 feet above the ground floor and right next to the wash.

The valley floor (right) at Canyon de Chelly.  BEAUTIFUL!! 

Navajo's still live in the area and perform agriculture and sheep herding practices from hundreds of years ago.  They also live in origional, 6-sided houses, called hogans.

Spider Rock formation from the Canyon.  It is over 800 feet high and is 230 million years old. 

The Navajo story:  Spider Woman had a power when creation started.  Some animals that were created were monsters that killed people.  Her father, Sun-God, was happy to help and destroyed all the monsters.

Because she saved the Navajo people, Spider Woman chose the top of Spider Rock to watch over her special people. 

If the Navajo children were ever behaving badly, the elders told stories that Spider Woman would climb down the rock on her made web-ladder and carry them back up to her home to devour them!