Devil's Tower, a volcanic neck declared the first national monument in the United States

There are abundant geological structures in the world, from volcanoes to underground formations, and the United States offers some of these incredible exotic destinations for you to discover. This is where Devil's Tower, a national monument located in Crook County, northwest Wyoming, stands.

First national monument in the United States

With an imposing rock tower rising 386 meters above the ground, 1,558 meters above sea level, it gained its true national significance after being declared the United States' first national monument in September 1906, during the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt. The rock formation is composed of phonolitic igneous rocks dating back 200 million years, covering a total of 5.45 square kilometers.

The oldest rocks visible in the national monument are said to have been found in a very deep sea during the Triassic Period, 225 to 195 million years ago, with a characteristic reddish hue due to the oxidation of iron minerals. The formation we see today has a layer of gypsum deposited during the Jurassic, 136 million years ago.

A natural monument surrounded by legends

The name of this natural monument has a unique history. In the Lakota language, the rock is known as Mato Tipila, meaning "bear's lodge" in Spanish, and is related to the history surrounding the site that explains its shape.

Popularly known as the Belle Fourche River legend, it tells the story of some girls playing there who encountered giant bears and were chased by them. They climbed onto a rock to pray, begging on their knees to be saved. Their prayers worked. It is said that the Great Spirit heard them and raised the rock high so the bears could not reach it. The distinctive marks seen throughout its structure are said to have been made by the bears as they tried, in vain, to reach the top of the rock.

The biggest draw for visitors to this area is the experience of climbing it, but not many are able to do so. The most recent climb took place in 1937 and is attributed to Fritz Wiessner.