A River Meanders Nearly Nine Kilometers to Cover Just Two (2 Photos)

In southern Utah, the San Juan River carves tight loops through the desert. In one spot, the river travels roughly 8.9 kilometers to cover a straight-line distance of just 2.1 kilometers. A photo from the International Space Station clearly shows why these dramatic bends are called "goosenecks."





The San Juan River, October 6, 2026. NASA/JSC, ISS075-E-188830.

Long ago, the river meandered across a relatively flat plain. As the Colorado Plateau gradually rose, the river carved deeper into the bedrock while maintaining its original twists and turns. In Goosenecks State Park, the canyon plunges to depths of nearly 300 meters.

The orbital overview was captured on October 6, 2026. A ground-level panorama taken by Bob Wick ten years earlier, on August 8, 2016, showcases the same entrenched meanders from a different angle—a testament to geological history rather than a river seeking the shortest path.



Goosenecks State Park, August 8, 2016. Bob Wick (BLM).