The formation of the Grand Canyon
There are many theories on how the Grand Canyon is formed. Most people say that the Colorado River carved the Grand Canyon about 5 million to 6 million years ago and still is.
The most strong force that created the shape of the canyon we see today is by erosion, primarily by water, ice and wind. Other forces that have also affected the formation are the Colorado River, continental drift, and slight variations in the earth’s orbit. That affects and causes variations in season and climates. Water is what seems to have the most impact because that is was our planet has tons of it and its always moving. The canyon is located in a desert, so people cannot understand how water has the most impact on the formation. The fact that is located in a desert is exactly why water impacts it the most. Since the soil is so dried out by the sun it becomes very hard and doesn’t have the ability to absorb water when it rains. The plants that grow in the Grand Canyon usually have a very shallow root system. This is mainly so they can take as much water as possible when it does happen to rain. Unfortunately, these root systems don’t really help us out. Basically, now we have tons of water and it has nowhere to go. The only path open for the water to flow is heading down to the Colorado River. The largest danger at the Grand Canyon is its ground. When you walk over the rim you may think that the ground is stable but from beneath it’s undercut. This means that the ground underneath is paper-thin and this is due to erosion. It has carved out the canyon wall beneath you. Since the Grand Canyon is always changing the rock can crumble any time and you will fall hundreds or thousands of feet to your death. I don’t have to say this but the chances of surviving are not so likely. This is why it is suggested that you stick to the trails and do not go beyond the boundaries. |
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