The Sea Captain stands watch over Bonita Canyon in Chiricahua National Monument, Arizona. This anthropomorphic figure is made up of a fine grain volcanic rock called rhyolite. Rhyolite is an uncommon volcanic rock mixture primarily found at Yellowstone National Park and here at Chiricahua. In this Picture of the Day, the coarse, grey colored rocks are covered with neon green lichens.
Different ecosystems thrive in this mountain range. Douglas fir, ponderosa pine and ferns cover the cool northern mountain slopes. Apache pine and Mexican pinyon pine grow on the sunny southern slopes. Yuccas and sotol, from the Chiricahua desert area, mixed with Sonoran agave and cacti.