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.