The Grand Canyon

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The Grand Canyon

• a window into history.
• By Ms. McGuire-Milo

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History of the Park

• In 1969, John Wesley Powell (often referred to as
  the Father of the Canyon) led an expedition for
  the US into the west and reported the
  significance of the Grand Canyon. It was then
  that the United States recognized that this land
  was important.
• Portions of the Grand Canyon were originally set
  aside as a Game preserve in 1906.
• Later, in 1908, it was designated a National
  Monument by President Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt.
• WOW! Thats before it even had a state to be in
  (Arizona became a state in 1912) and before there
  was even a National Park Service.
• February 26, 1919, Grand Canyon is now a National
  Park.
• The park was originally designated for its
  wildlife, breathe taking views and size, later
  there was discovery of additional value.

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History Continued.

• The Canyon had so many wonders to show us
• Such as Ancestral History (see next slide)
• Amazing Views
• Valuable Geologic History
• Important Wildlife
• That it later became one of the 7 Wonders of the
  World!

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People in the Canyon

• United States citizens were not the first to
  occupy the Grand Canyon. It provided a home for
  many people before us, like
• The Paleo Indian from 14,000-9,000 years ago.
• Hunters following big game after the last ice
  age.
• The Archaic Man form 9,000-3,000 years ago
• Nomadic Hunting Tribe traveling through.
• The Basketmakers from 3,000-1,300 years ago.
• People that hunted, gathered nuts, grew corn, and
  traded.
• Ancestral Pueblos 1,300-800 years ago
• Farmers living with extended families in
  communities.
• Cerbot/Pai 800-150 years ago
• The dominant tribe along the south rim that came
  form the Mohave Desert.
• Sounthern Paiute 800-present years ago
• Present tribe today originally from southern Utah
  and were hunter gathers.

5
Geology of The Grand Canyon

• The geology of the Grand Canyon is very complex,
  even when simplified.
• Take a moment to familiarize yourself with it my
  coloring in the layers on your worksheet and
  labeling the time in which they were formed.

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Wildlife in the Park

• All types of animals live in the Grand Canyon
  such as
• Mammals
• Birds
• Reptiles
• Amphibians
• Insects
• One of the reasons for the wildlife in the park
  is because there is such a large range in the
  type and amount of animals in the park.
• Some animals are also endangered, but with the
  help of the National Park Service to protect
  them, they can continue to live.

8
Conservation in the Park

• The National Park service is not the only
  protector of the parks wildlife and resources.
• The Grand Canyon Trust (non-profit organization.)
• Grand Canyon River Outfitters. (work on
  protecting the Colorado River in the Canyon.)
• Grand Canyon National Park Association (works on
  the education of conservation in the park.)

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Common Questions about the Grand Canyon

• How Big Is it!?!

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How Big is it, cont

• You need to be more specific when asking to get
  the right answer, for example
• The Grand Canyon includes 1,218,375.54 acres
  (OMG, that more than 1 million!!!)
• The Grand Canyons river miles is 277 miles long.
• At its deepest, it is 6000 vertical feet
• Here's another way to look at size a trip to the
  bottom of the Canyon and back (on foot or by
  mule) is a two-day journey.

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When is the Best time to Visit?

• First decide what type of atmosphere you would
  like (ex. Hot, cooler, crowed, lots of people,
  little people, etc. Then look into when you will
  find what you want.
• You would probably expect to see t heavy crowds
  during spring, summer, and fall months. You will
  find fewer crowds in the early spring or late
  fall.
• You also need to keep in mind that the South Rim
  is open year round, but heavy snows close the
  road to the North Rim from late October to mid
  May of each year. 

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What is there to do at the Grand Canyon?

• First you should think about what you would like
  to do and see if it is possible.
• At the bigger national parks, such as the Grand
  Canyon, you have so many choices for activities.
• Check the Park websites or call the park to look
  into activities and times.
• http//www.grandcanyon.org/ P.O. Box 399, Grand
  Canyon, AZ 86023 [phone].

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Activities at the Park

• Hiking is one of the most common activities at
  the park. There are many trails throughout the
  park to get around.
• Attending Ranger Nature talks, walks, and other
  activities are very popular.
• A ride on the Grand Canyon Railway is a
  historical and entertaining event.
• See the following video to check out some
  pictures of these activities.

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Review

• How old are the oldest rocks in the Grand Canyon?
• Over 600 million years old!

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What types of evidence do we have to prove that
we were not the first visitors to the Canyon?

• Artifacts from how the people lived have been
  left behind, such as
• willow branch animals,
• painting,
• woven baskets,
• tools,
• and even dwellings!

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What kind of animals can be found at the Grand
Canyon?

• Answer..
• All kinds! Although the most common animals are
  Mammals and Birds.