The Grand Canyon
Arizona, U.S.A.
Weater/Climate
• Summer
– The North Rim is fairly cool because of elevation
– The South Rim has pleasant tempuratures
– The Inner canyon can reach up to around 105°F
• Winter
– The North Rim closes due to heavy snow
– General conditions are extreme
• Spring/Fall
– Be prepared for a variety of conditions; cold/rainy
Landforms
• The Grand Canyon is
– 277 miles long
– 18 miles wide
– And a mile deep
Waterways
• The Colorado River is an 1450 mile long river
that is within the Canyon
• The River over millions of years carved out the
Canyon to what it is today
Vegetation
• The supreme diversity
– 1737 known species of plants
– 167 species of fungi
– 64 species of moss
– 195 species of lichen
– 129 plant communities
Animals
• The Grand Canyon is home to many different
animals
– Amphibians, birds, crustaceans, fish, insects,
insects, mammals, mollusks, and reptiles
• The Grand Canyon contains every habitat
except a tundra
• Because of the large land preserved, it is
deemed a valuable reserve.
Environmental Issues
• Nearby factories emit sulfur dioxide and
causes smog, decreasing the air quality
• Dams has become an issue as well, ruining
natural habitats
• And like most parks, there are some
endangered species
History
• Paleo-Hunters hunted around the Grand
Canyon around 10,000 years ago.
– A pot was found and was carbon dated to around
4000 years ago
• The Navajos settled around it at around the
1,300s
• John Wesley Powell and 9 men rafted the
Colorado River in 1869
• Mining began in the 1870s and 1880s for lead,
zinc, asbestos, and copper
Preservation Efforts
• In September 1991 the Grand Canyon Trust
and the owners of the Navajo Generating
Station made an agreement to reduce sulfur
dioxide emissions
• In 1997, Congress chose certain areas to have
a high degree of attention to the air to reduce
pollution. The Grand Canyon was one of
them.
• And of course, park rangers tell the visitors to
avoid wild animals to keep them natural.