Grand Canyon National Park By Megan Gusho January 20, 2016

The History of The Grand Canyon The Grand Canyon became a national park on February 26, 1919. This was just three years after the creation of the National Park Service. Grand Canyon is the 15th oldest national park in the United States. In 1903, President Roosevelt visited the site and said that nothing should ever be done to destroy its beauty, because it was “the one great site which every American should see.” It wasn't until President Woodrow Wilson signed the Grand Canyon National Park Act in 1919 that it officially became a national park. The Grand Canyon will celebrate it’s 100th birthday in 2019

Maps of The Grand Canyon National Park Map of USA with Grand Canyon Topographic Map of Grand Canyon Grand Canyon is located in the state of Arizona The features for the Grand Canyon are mountains, canyons and cedar mountain roads. The rocks are made out of Igneous, Metamorphic and Sedimentary. The Grand Canyon landforms are caves, rivers and rocks.

Environmental Issues Affecting the Grand Canyon The Grand Canyon is facing many environmental issues, including air pollution, sound pollution and climate- change impacts. Air pollution is a threat to the beautiful views, and can also damage the health of people and animals in the park. Sound pollution is caused by tons of helicopters and airplanes flying over the park. Climate change and warming temperatures could make the region drier and limit water availability, which could reduce the number of wildlife and plant species in the park.

Landforms and other features inside the park The Grand Canyon has many landforms and features, including: Rock layers: Including sandstone, lava, limestone, shale and granite. Cave and Karst systems: these were formed by water going into porous rock, creating sinkholes, fissures and subterranean drainage Faults: horizontal or vertical cracks in rock shapes caused by tectonic activity, like earthquakes. Water Features: Water is the most powerful force in the park – including the Colorado River.

How Technology is used to preserve and maintain the park Park Rangers use a system of cameras to look over the Grand canyon so nothing bad will happen to the park. Archeologists use digital photography, global positioning systems (GPS), three-dimensional laser scanning and modeling, and computer- aided drafting programs (CAD), to collect, store, and analyze architectural data. Preservation specialists produce digital models and scaled drawings of architectural remains. These technologies help archeologists better understand the human stories that led to the construction and use of these remains.

Types of rocks that are found in the park Many types of rocks are found all over the park. Three rocks specifically found in the Grand Canyon are: IGNEOUS ROCKS: These are formed when rock is super-heated and becomes molten (liquid). There are two kinds of molten rock: magma (found beneath the Earth’s surface) and lava (found on the Earth’s surface). The molten rock cools and hardens on or beneath the Earth’s surface forming a variety of igneous rock. Two examples are granite and basalt. SEDIMENTARY ROCKS: These are made of smaller pieces (like sand or mud), called sediments, that pile into layers. As pressure on the sediment increases over time, minerals act like glue, cementing them into solid rock. The three main types of sedimentary rocks at Grand Canyon are sandstone, shale (or mudstone), and limestone. METAMORPHIC ROCKS: These are rocks that have been Changed under great heat and pressure. The original rock can be sedimentary, igneous, or even metamorphic. The original rock is changed into something new, just as a caterpillar “metamorphoses” into a butterfly.

How The Grand Canyon was formed There is still debate about how the Grand Canyon was formed, the most common belief is that water was responsible. Lots of water flows through the Colorado River, and has for a long time. When it rains in the Grand Canyon, the rainwater begins to run down toward the river, making flash floods common. The flood water topples rocks and boulders in its path. Dirt is swept along, leaving behind only hard rock formations. During the winter, water seeps in the tiny cracks and crevices of the rocks. When it freezes, the ice cracks the rocks even more. Wind also adds to the erosion process of the Grand Canyon, which is still changing every year.

How the land inside the park is currently changing Over the years, and on-going, the canyons and the rocks continually shift and move. The rivers also shift and move, creating new canyons within the park. Because of dams that have been built in the last 50 years, the rivers don’t shift and move as much. The dams also reduced the amount of sediment in the rivers (because the dam controls the flow). Dams on the Colorado River have also changed the character of the river water. It used to be muddy and warm, but now the river is clear and averages a temperature of 46 °F.

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