Picture above: Describes the different rock layers in the Grand Canyon
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THE HISTORY OF THE GRAND CANYONThe Grand Canyon is a 277 mile long, 18 mile wide, and 6000ft deep hole. It was created by constant erosion from the Colorado River over millions of years. The Grand Canyon is located in the northwest corner of Arizona, USA. It is very close to Utah and Nevada. It reveals about 40% of the earth’s history… The farthest back we can travel through the Grand Canyon is about 10, 500 years. This was when the first evidence of human presence in the area is found. Native Americans have inhabited the Grand Canyon as well as the area which is now known as the Grand Canyon National Park for the last 4000 of those years.
The Grand Canyon is made of about 9 layers or rock. The layers are the Kaibab Limestone, Toroweap Formation, Coconino Sandstone, Hermit Shale, Supai Formation, Redwall Limestone, Mauv Limestone, Bright Angel Shale, and Tapeasts Sandstone. All of these rocks vary from differenet colors, sizes, ages, and what they are formed of. Each layer represents a different time era and allows us to travel up to 10,000 years back in time. Canyons are below the land and horizon, this is what gives them their name. They could be as deep as hundreds or thousands of feet below the land. Their widths may stretch for miles or a couple of feet. Sunlight may fill them or may never reach their darkened bottom. Many canyons have water running through them, possibly the most powerful force on the planet. |