The Bad Lands in Alberta were named by early settlers who found the area "bad" for farming. Water, wind and sand have shaped the landscape in Alberta's Red Deer River Valley. Sculptures are layered with sandstone, mudstone, coal and shale.
Streams have cut deeply into the plains of soft rock. There is little rainfall and it tends to come in intense, short rainstorms. The soft rock is worn away by the water running quickly off the land. The lack of water also inhibits plant vegetation which would act as an anchor slowing the erosion of the land.
Formations shaped like mushrooms are formed by water and wind depleting the rock. These fragile sandstone pillars are topped by protective capstones and wear away very quickly once the capstone falls off.
