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Article #107: The Grand Canyon: Life In The Gorge

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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.






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