3. **The Curse of the Obsidian Cliffs**

Many legends have been created by the striking Obsidian Cliffs; arguably the most lasting is the curse connected with taking the shiny black volcanic glass out of the park. The myth holds that tourists who remove bits of obsidian from the cliffs would suffer until the stone is brought back. Hundreds of letters that park rangers have received over years—containing returned obsidian bits and tales of bad luck—have strengthened this narrative. Native American ideas about the holy character of the material—which was much prized for tools and ceremonial objects—are thought to have inspired the myth. Stories of enigmatic accidents, inexplicable diseases, and even ghostly visits encountered by persons who took the obsidian from its native context have grown into part of the curse narrative.