Grand Canyon

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Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is regarded as one of the natural wonders of the world because of its unique physical features. River Colorado carves the Grand Canyon located in Arizona. The region has very distinctive geographical features that cannot be found in any location in the world. The canyon consists of exposed geologic strata that rise over a mile above the river. The region holds more than 1800 million years of earth`s history. Consequently, the Grand Canyon creates a diversity of biotic communities which for a park (Christensen 10). The entire area of the park is regarded as semi-arid desert, but unique habitats are found at different elevations. There are vegetation and sandy beaches around Colorado River and the North Rim contains a spruce-fir forest. The Colorado River provides water for all organisms at the canyon. Furthermore, the dry climate has been integral in preserving numerous fossils deep in the caves.
As one of the eight wonders of the world, the Grand Canyon has created a lot of interest among scientist, especially geologists. The Grand Canyon is a beautiful place that holds many mysteries. The region contains a lot of history. The Grand Canyon can trace its formation to around 2000 million years ago, hence making it an ideal place for scientists to learn about earth`s history. The region is unique and continues to puzzle geologist regarding its formation and size. Although many theories explain its existence, none is conclusive, and scientists are still trying to add to this knowledge.

It is the biggest canyon in the world. Furthermore, the region has distinctive animals and vegetation. Although the region is dry, each part has unique organisms’ depending on the elevation which makes the area attractive to scientists (Carothers, Steven, and Bryan 8). Additionally, Grand Canyon has its weather due to sudden changes in heights. The location also contains many fossils that help us study the past. These fossils consist of creatures that used to live in the region and they range from ancient marine fossils dating back 1200 million years ago to recent land mammals.
The Grand Canyon formation is a result of many geological events. Its formation can be traced two billion years ago with the materialization of igneous and metamorphic rocks of the most inner gorge. Layers of sedimentary rocks lie above the old stones. The canyon was formed through the action of tectonic plates and erosion (Beus and Michael 11). Millions of years ago, sediments were deposited above metamorphic and igneous rocks. Approximately 1100 billion years ago, sediments and lava were deposited along the coast and in the sea. Between 70 and 80 million years ago, due to the movement of the tectonic plates, the entire region was uplifted, resulting in the Colorado Plateau. About six million years ago, the Colorado River began to curve its path downward leading to erosion that widened the canyon (Karlstrom et al 239). The shape of the Grand Canyon is as a result of asymmetry between rapid cutting and slow widening by the river. The dry climate and violent storms have created a landscape of bare rocks.
The Grand Canyon is a remarkable geological feature that continues to amaze scientists. It is also an exciting place to visit especially for geography students as it offers practical insight. The Grand Canyon provides a breathtaking view that shows the wonders of creation. By analyzing its formation, we can appreciate and understand the canyon better.
Works Cited
Beus, Stanley S., and Michael Morales. Grand Canyon Geology. Oxford University Press, USA, 2003.
Carothers, Steven Warren, and Bryan T. Brown. “The Colorado River through Grand Canyon: natural history and human change.” (1991).
Christensen, Shane. Grand Canyon National Park. Wiley, 2004.
Karlstrom, Karl E., et al. “Formation of the Grand Canyon 5 to 6 million years ago through integration of older palaeocanyons.” Nature Geoscience 7.3 (2014): 239.