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Chapter 9
Lesson 1
The Grand Canyon
Mesa
A flat landform that rises steeply above
the surrounding land; smaller than a
plateau
Butte
A flat-topped hill,
smaller than a mesa
Canyon
Grand Canyon
Canyon on the Colorado River in
northwestern Arizona
Grand Canyon Photos
Colorado River
Flows through
Grand Canyon
Erosion
Many people cannot understand how water can have
such a profound impact considering that the
Canyon is basically located in a desert. This is one
of the biggest reasons that water has such a big
impact here. Because the soil in the Grand Canyon
is baked by the sun it tends to become very hard
and cannot absorb water when the rains to come.
When it does rain the water tends to come down in
torrents which only adds to the problem. The
plants that grow in the Grand Canyon tend to have
very shallow root systems so that they can grab as
much water as possible on those rare occasions
when it does rain.
Supai and the Havasupai
Reservation
• http://www.kaibab.org/supai/gc_supai.htm
The Anasazi Indians built granaries high on the cliff about 1100 A.D.
Since the view from the ruins is popular with river runners and
hikers alike, multiple trailing has occurred. Efforts are underway to
minimize human impact and revegetate the area.
Duck-on-a-rock