Geology Reference
In-Depth Information
Geo-inSight
The Grand Canyon—A Geologist's Paradise
“The Grand Canyon is the one great sight which every
American should see,” declared President Theodore Roos-
evelt. “We must do nothing to mar its grandeur.” And so, in
1908, he named the Grand Canyon a national monument
to protect it from exploitation. In 1919, the Grand Canyon
National Monument was upgraded to a national park pri-
marily because its scenery and the geology exposed in the
canyon are unparalleled. Located in the Colorado Plateau
in northwestern Arizona, Grand Canyon National Park
encompasses 1,218,375 acres and contains several major
ecosystems.
Although best known for its geology, Grand Canyon
National Park is home to 89 species of mammals, 56 species
of reptiles and amphibians, more than 300 species of birds,
17 species of fi sh, and more than 1500 plant species. Its great
biological diversity can be attributed to the fact that within
its boundaries are fi ve of the seven life zones and three of the
four desert types in North America.
1. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona,
consists of three distinct sections: the
South Rim, the North Rim, and the Inner
Canyon. Each section has a different
climate and vegetation, and offers the
visitor different experiences. Most of the
more than 5000 km
2
of the park is main-
tained as wilderness, with many trails
affording visitors both day and overnight
backcountry hiking opportunities. Formed
by the erosive power of the Colorado
River, the Grand Canyon winds more than
500 km through northwestern Arizona,
averages a depth of 1220 m, and is
1830 m deep at its deepest point.
Zion
Grand
Canyon
ARIZONA
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