2010 Sedona
![<span id="date">_12/20/10_</span> <span id="title">Cliff Castle</span>
Today we left Sedona and headed South to Tucson. Along the way, we stopped at Montezuma Well and Montezuma Castle, about 10 miles apart. Both are misnomers, named by early settlers that thought they were Aztec when, in fact, the Aztecs never made it this far North. They were built by the Sinagua people, who vanished from the area 500-600 years ago for reasons unknown.
This is obviously the 'castle', not the well. It's 100 feet off the ground and would have had ladders to get to it when it was in use. Other ruins are nearby, but none as spectacular as these - 4 levels built straight into the cliff.
I'll post more photos in a separate gallery, but in case you're wondering what the well is - it's a sinkhole that's fed by underground springs, so there's constant water at the bottom. Sinagua ruins are all around the rim, as well as inside the well. Both stops are just minutes from I-17 and they're well worth the stop.
<a href="http://www.jawsnap.net/Misc/2010/Sedona/15240272_8L6AX">More photos!</a>
<a href="http://www.jawsnap.net/Daily/year2/7157835_BfJPF#746015794_t6zyp">[last year]</a>](https://photos.smugmug.com/Misc/Sedona/i-MNFfGK4/2/fe303792/L/2010-12-20%20Cliff%20Castle-L.jpg)
_12/20/10_ Cliff Castle Today we left Sedona and headed South to Tucson. Along the way, we stopped at Montezuma Well and Montezuma Castle, about 10 miles apart. Both are misnomers, named by early settlers that thought they were Aztec when, in fact, the Aztecs never made it this far North. They were built by the Sinagua people, who vanished from the area 500-600 years ago for reasons unknown. This is obviously the 'castle', not the well. It's 100 feet off the ground and would have had ladders to get to it when it was in use. Other ruins are nearby, but none as spectacular as these - 4 levels built straight into the cliff. I'll post more photos in a separate gallery, but in case you're wondering what the well is - it's a sinkhole that's fed by underground springs, so there's constant water at the bottom. Sinagua ruins are all around the rim, as well as inside the well. Both stops are just minutes from I-17 and they're well worth the stop. More photos! [last year]
![<span id="date">_12/20/10_</span> <span id="title">Cliff Castle</span>
Today we left Sedona and headed South to Tucson. Along the way, we stopped at Montezuma Well and Montezuma Castle, about 10 miles apart. Both are misnomers, named by early settlers that thought they were Aztec when, in fact, the Aztecs never made it this far North. They were built by the Sinagua people, who vanished from the area 500-600 years ago for reasons unknown.
This is obviously the 'castle', not the well. It's 100 feet off the ground and would have had ladders to get to it when it was in use. Other ruins are nearby, but none as spectacular as these - 4 levels built straight into the cliff.
I'll post more photos in a separate gallery, but in case you're wondering what the well is - it's a sinkhole that's fed by underground springs, so there's constant water at the bottom. Sinagua ruins are all around the rim, as well as inside the well. Both stops are just minutes from I-17 and they're well worth the stop.
<a href="http://www.jawsnap.net/Misc/2010/Sedona/15240272_8L6AX">More photos!</a>
<a href="http://www.jawsnap.net/Daily/year2/7157835_BfJPF#746015794_t6zyp">[last year]</a>](https://photos.smugmug.com/Misc/Sedona/i-MNFfGK4/2/fe303792/Ti/2010-12-20%20Cliff%20Castle-Ti.jpg)
fotoeffects
on December 22, 2010Very sharp!
Lgood
on December 22, 2010Excellent shot!
Happy Tree
on December 22, 2010Wow, great catch. Love the composition!
Kerry Milkie Photography
on December 22, 2010How cool is this! Great capture
irishmurr
on December 22, 2010This is fascinating!
Andrea Kaus (ChaosGraphics)
on December 21, 2010Wonderful shot -- I've been close but never to the castle. I'll show this to my husband though. We went to Montezuma's Well once, at the recommendation of my sister, when it was 110 plus degrees out. Since then, Jim just calls it Montezuma's Pit and refuses to go anywhere close to a Montezuma anything. This looks like a way to get him interested again.
Janet McQueen
on December 21, 2010Excellent capture! Wow... such an amazing place, it's breathtaking!!
Curtis Budden
on December 21, 2010It looks incredible. Nice composition as well. If I ever visit the States again, I really need to make it to the southwest.
John Bennett
on December 21, 2010Wonderful historic place