Two renowned rock formations in northwestern New Mexico have collapsed following weeks of extreme weather, local tour guide Kialo Winters confirmed on Friday. The Alien Throne (Tsé Bináká Níyol) and the King of Wings formations, located near the Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness, were toppled by heavy rainfall that saturated the region’s already wet soil.
The collapses occurred within weeks of each other, marking the loss of two landmarks that had drawn tourists and photographers for decades. Winters, founder of Navajo Tours USA, described the moment he discovered the Alien Throne’s collapse as “surreal,” pausing to process the sudden disappearance of a natural feature central to his tours.
Record rainfall and widespread flooding
The southwestern U.S. has faced an unprecedented series of storms since late October, with more than 20 trillion gallons (75.7 trillion liters) of rain recorded across New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and Nevada. The deluge followed an exceptionally wet fall, leaving the ground saturated and unable to absorb additional moisture.
Rivers crested, floodwaters surged through typically dry washes, and dirt roads across the Navajo Nation became impassable or were washed away entirely. Officials estimate the damage from the storms could exceed hundreds of millions of dollars, with cleanup efforts underway as waters recede.
Impact on communities and landscapes
The extreme weather has left lasting effects beyond the loss of geological landmarks. Winters expressed concern for relatives on the Navajo Nation, where infrastructure damage has disrupted daily life. The erosion triggered by the storms has also altered the region’s delicate desert ecosystems, with officials warning of long-term consequences for the landscape.
Geologists note that while erosion is a natural process, the intensity and frequency of recent storms may accelerate changes to formations like the Alien Throne and King of Wings, which had stood for centuries. The collapses serve as a stark reminder of the power of extreme weather events in shaping—and reshaping—the natural world.