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PAROWAN, Iron County — It is known as the Overseer, a protector of American Indians.
The rock formation at the Parowan Gap resembles a face with a slightly open mouth, overlooking the surrounding area. This weekend, the Overseer is in for a feast — it will "swallow" the sun just after sunrise on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
"As a protector of the people, he's telling the people in November that the summer sun has gone into its winter home and if they have not prepared for winter by (finding) food and warm shelter that they better be moving south because winter is coming. It's going to get colder," said Parowan Heritage Foundation interpretive volunteer Nancy Dalton.
"The same in February when he spits it out, it's saying the Earth is going to warm up, and we're coming into spring so you only need to ration a little further on and spring will be here and you can start planting again."
The Parowan Heritage Foundation and Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah are teaming up to host a free interpretive program Saturday morning for those who want to view the phenomenon. The program will begin at 7:30 a.m., before the sun enters the Overseer's mouth at 8:03 a.m.
Dalton said she gets goosebumps each time she watches the Overseer swallow the sun. It happens every year on Nov. 6, 7 and 8.
7:30 a.m. the interpretive program begins
8:03 a.m. the sun enters the mouth
8:23 a.m. the process concludes
"On those days, standing there by the gap, the sun went into the mouth and instead of passing out it rolled to the back of the mouth and sits," she said. "Then after about several minutes he goes and swallows it and it's gone."
The Parowan Gap is located 12 miles northwest of Parowan and 19 miles north of Enoch in Iron County. Dalton said the wind in the area can be ice cold, so visitors are encouraged to dress warm.
In addition to viewing the swallowing of the sun, visitors can see the Parowan Gap petroglyphs and learn more about the history of the area. The Parowan Heritage Foundation hosts five archeo-astronomy events every year, including for the fall and spring equinoxes.
