The Wave: Arizona’s natural wonder that only 48 people are allowed to visit each day

On the border of the two US states of Arizona and Utah lies a unique natural wonder: The Wave. The approximately 200 million year old rock formation actually looks like a stone wave. And although the rush is huge, only a few people are allowed to visit the place each day.

Imagine the following scenario: You would like to take a trip to a famous natural wonder. But before you can even plan your tour, you have to play the lottery. Because only if your name is drawn, you can actually see said natural wonder. Sounds absurd? Not in the US. Here lies one of the most spectacular rock formations in the world: The Wave. Access strictly limited.

This is an approximately 200-million-year-old landscape that actually looks like a wave turned to stone. That’s where their name comes from, of course, The Wave. It was formed when, over an unimaginably long time, sand dunes slowly petrified. Erosion by wind and weather then gave the formation its current appearance. As more and more rock was removed, the different layers that make The Wave so unique today came to light.

A German film made The Wave famous

The natural wonder is located in Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, a vast, desert-like natural park on the border of the US states of Arizona and Utah. The area is also famous for the Paria Canyon, which is considered one of the most spectacular gorges in the world. The Vermilion Cliffs themselves are cliffs up to 1000 meters high that rise above the canyon. The undisputed highlight of the area is The Wave.

It is thanks to a German film that The Wave is one of the most famous natural beauties in the USA today. In 1996 “Fascination Nature – The most beautiful landscapes on earth” was published, which drew the attention of a broader public to the special rock formation. To this day, The Wave is also more visited by tourists from Europe than from home, if local tour guides are to be believed.

Only 48 people admitted per day

In order to protect the fragile wonder, the influx of visitors was quickly and drastically restricted. For a long time, only 20 people per day were allowed to visit The Wave, who had to apply for permission via a lottery. The Bureau of Land Management, which administers the area, has also stuck to this lottery. However, 48 guests are now allowed to watch The Wave every day.

Half of the places will be allocated online, the rest will be raffled off among “applicants” on site. There are various websites on the Internet where you can read about the months in which you have the best chance of being successful. It’s important to remember that a visit to The Wave is exhausting at best – and can even be deadly.

Dangerous natural wonder

The natural wonder can only be reached via a hike of about ten kilometers in total, whereby there are hardly any signposts in the wilderness-like nature park. Four of the five people who lost their lives on the way to The Wave died as a result of the heat that can prevail here. It is therefore strongly recommended that you always carry enough drinking water with you on a tour, at least four liters, preferably more.

It is best not to go alone, but to hire a guide. This is the only way to ensure that you can really enjoy America’s unique natural wonder safely. That is, of course, if you’re one of the chosen few to have previously won the lottery.