About The Wave: The Wave in Arizona is a swirl of striped red-and-orange sandstone. It formed from ancient sand dunes that hardened, then were carved by wind. So few people are allowed in each day that visits are given out by lottery. The 'waves' are really the layers of buried desert dunes

Location: In Arizona, in the southwestern United States · Country: United States · Type: Swirling, striped walls of soft sandstone · How It Formed: Old sand dunes hardened into rock, then wind and water carved it · Nature: Wavy bands of red, orange and yellow rock · Notable Feature: Only a few people are allowed to visit each day · World Rank: One of the most photographed rock formations on Earth · Big Number: Its stripes record millions of years of ancient dunes