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