The Grand Canyon Life In The Gorge

A n eagle swoops overhead,         The Grand Canyon is perhaps        its vast wingspan               America’s most recognisable        silhouetted against the         landmark. The region is a magnet   morning sun. A trained eye            for tourists, attracting over 5    surveys the land below,               million visitors each year.        anticipating any sudden movement.     Nobody fully appreciates the                                             landscape until they have                                                experienced it for themselves.     Deep in the canyon beneath, the                                          Colorado River runs its               From the Colorado River, deep in   relentless course through Grand       the canyon floor, layer upon       Canyon National Park, carved          layer of rock becomes noticeable,  through the ages by this vein         stacked like pancakes, each one    flowing through Arizona. As the       representing millions of years of  sun climbs the morning sky,           evolution. Tiers of lime and       flooding the valley with light,       sandstone stand excavated by the   the ground temperature rises and      river, wind and sands of time.     the creatures of the valley begin                                        their daily quest for survival.       Above the canyon, the temperature                                        in the plateau area ranges from    The immense scale of the Grand        one extreme to another. Down on    Canyon is difficult to                the canyon floor, temperatures     comprehend. At its peak, the side     can exceed 100°F, though winter    walls plummet 1500 m (5000 ft)        frosts are rare.                   down to the river. At its                                                broadest the canyon extends up to     It’s surprising to imagine         29 km (18 mi) wide and overall        anything living in this hot and    the complex stretches over 446 km     arid land far from the river, but  (227 mi).                             the valleys are bursting with                                            life. Plants and animals cling     precariously to the vertical          own pecking orders. Here, in this  cliff faces, every nook and           parched and hostile land, the      cranny bustling with activity.        food chain provides a delicate                                           balance between survival, or       Deep on the valley floor, the         finishing as dinner for those in   creatures scurry around, living       the hierarchy. The environment is  their own rat race. The park is       uncompromising and evolution has   home to a wide variety of animals     chosen its few.                    including the unique Grand Canyon                                        “pink” rattlesnake. Ringtails,        In the distance, the eagle glides  beavers and chipmunks are all         effortlessly over the broad        widespread. Hundreds of bird          crevasse. A sudden change in       species have made their home in       direction and the predator is      the park, as well as countless        racing to the ground at speed.     insects and arachnids.                Moments later, an unfortunate                                            rodent has become breakfast.       The canyon communities have their      About the Author: Steven Cronin owns the City Breaks website featuring city break special offers from luxury hotels to budget accommodations. For more information please visit http://www.sargas.co.uk Source: www.isnare.com