The Grand Canyon
Everyone has heard of the Grand
Canyon. It is in Arizona, In the USA. It is 446 Kilometres long
and, in some
places, 1,6 Kilometres deep. The Colorado River runs through the Grand Canyon.
Visiting the Grand Canyon isn't free. It costs 25 Dollars for a car and its
passengers, or 12 dollars for a pedestrian or cyclists.
The Grand Canyon is one of the Seven
Natural Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World
Heritage site. It is not only
very beautiful, but it is also an extremely important geological
reference.
By examining the strata of rock in
the Grand Canyon, experts have learned about the geology
of the Earth over the
last two billion years.
Originally, there wasn't a gorge
where the Grand Canyon is today, there were tall mountains.
However, millions of years of
geological activity, and erosion by the Colorado River, created
the spectacular
canyon. The rocks in the deepest parts of the canyon today were once the base
of the mountains, so they are some of the oldest rocks in the world.
Approximately 3028 million litres of
water flow through the Grand Canyon every hour, so the
erosion that formed the
canyon still continues today.
There are many different
geographical features within the Grand Canyon such as mountains,
plains,
cliffs, lakes, desert and the river with its waterfalls and rapids. The
differences in
altitude mean that the climate is varied too. As a result,
several of the world's major
ecosystems exists in the Grand Canyon, and many
endangered species of animals. One of
these species is the Gila monster. It is
a large, poisonous lizard.
The Grand Canyon is an unforgettable
sight and it has around 5 million visitors a year. They see it by plane,
helicopter or train, explore it on foot or a mule, or go kayaking and
white-
water rafting down the Colorado River.
WRITE ANSWERS TO THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS ON YOUR EXERCISE BOOK:
1.
Where
is the Grand Canyon?
2.
How
long is it ?
3.
How
deep can it be in some places?
4.
How
much does it cost for a car and two pedestrians to visit the Grand Canyon?
5.
Why is
the Grand Canyon an important geological site?
6.
Describe
how the Grand Canyon formed.
7.
What
kind of landscapes can you find within the Grand Canyon?
8.
What is
the name of the River that flows through the Grand Canyon?
9.
Which
endangered animal can you find in the Grand Canyon?
10.
How
many visitors are there to the Grand Canyon each year?
11.
How can
they see it?
12.
Would
you like to go to the Grand Canyon? Why? Why not?
13.
What is
one of your favourite places/towns/ countries? Why?
