Shiprock, Navajo Nation, New Mexico, USA

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Shiprock (Navajo: Tsé Bitʼaʼí, “rock with wings” or “winged rock”) is an isolated volcanic neck rising almost 1600 feet out of the northwestern high plain of New Mexico. It is a sacred site to the Diné (Navajo) people, whose legend has it that it is the remnants of a great bird that brought the Diné to this area from the north. The dike that leads outward from the main body of the rock is what remains of one of the wings of the great bird.

I’d been by this many times driving through New Mexico, but never saw it from this angle. My partner, Jennie, planned to have us go by from this angle on one of our excursions, so that I could fly my drone and get this view. The weather and light were perfect, and we ran into a Diné couple who were driving up to the base of the rock to pray and told us of its history and legend. One of my favorite photos of many wonderful sights in New Mexico.

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156 july august 2025
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