C28 Canyons and Deltas

C28 Canyon / Delta Vocabulary Canyon: a deep, narrow valley with steep sides and usually a river at the bottom Cliff: a high, steep slope on the side of a canyon or mountain Delta: triangular land made by mud and sand deposits at the mouth (end) of a river Marsh: soft, wet land usually with tall grass

C28 Canyon/ Delta Challenge Challenge Question: How can moving sediments create problems for construction? Water can carry sediments away from the construction site, making the land unstable. Water can carry sediments to the construc-tion site, getting in the way of machinery and clogging water lines and drains.

C28 Canyon / Delta Background Rivers carry water from high to low ground. While it travels, water breaks apart canyons & carries away small pieces of rocks & soil Flowing water carries the sediments down-hill until water can’t carry them anymore and they are dropped to the ground again. The water drops these sediments in places where they pile up & create new delta land

C28 Canyon/Delta Analysis: Hr_ Name_______________ Date___ Copy and Explain using 1 paragraph each. How is a model like real life? How is a model different than real life? Explain how water flowing down a river creates a canyon? Explain what happened to the rock that once filled up the canyon?

C28 Canyon / Delta Procedure 1 Set up the river model as demonstrated. Using one paragraph, predict what will happen when water is allowed to flow down the river model. Then draw it. Using the 30 mL graduated cup, put 3 full cups of sand into the river model between point A and point B.

C28 Canyon / Delta Procedure 2 4. Use your finger to pack the sand into a uniform layer that covers the bottom of the river model between points A and B. 5. Place the rainmaker over the model Point A 6. Add 50 mL of water to the rainmaker. 7. Observe the effects of the water on the sand (watch the river model & the catch basin). 8. Repeat steps 6-7 twice more, draw & label.