The Grand Canyon – The Home of Diverse Ecosystems

A designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, Grand Canyon is famous for the rock coloration and formation that is unique to the site. This steep sided gorge has a width of 0.2-29 km and extends from the Grand Wash Cliffs to northern Arizona which is about 446 km. The deepest part of the canyon is situated at the center of the Grand Canyon National Park and has a depth of 90km. This section covers the length of the rivers from Lake Mead to Lake Powell.

Grand Canyon is composed of semi-arid land and consists of structural basins and raised plateaus that are typical to this region. There are also a number of steep-walled canyons caused by drainage systems that have deeply cut through the rocks. Despite knowing this, there are still parts of the history of this site that remains a mystery and is still the subject of many debates. Apparently, despite the information gathered about this site, the geologists and scientist still cannot arrive at a consensus for example, about the age of the Canyon. However, they cannot deny that this site is geologically significant. It is like a natural museum full of diverse fossil records, a wide variety of rock types, an outstanding record book of the past three to four geologic eras and a number of caves rich in biological, paleontological, archeological and geological information and resources.

The Grand Canyon actually consists of several ecosystems like desert riparian communities and boreal forest. It is also home to a number of endemic and rare species of both plants and animals. In the Grand Canyon National Park, there are about 88 mammal, 335 bird, 9 amphibian, 47 reptile, 17 fish and 1,500 plant species protected and sheltered by the park. This biological diversity that is one of its hallmarks is due to the five life zones and three desert types found in North America. Examples of the representation of these life zones include the Upper Sonoran, Lower Sonoran, Canadian, Hudsonian and Transition areas.

The activities of the people living in the surrounding areas of the Grand Canyon have affected this heritage site in a number of ways. In some areas, farmers have reclaimed desert, turning it into farm and ranchland. This has led to the growth of wild plants that do not belong to the natural flora of the area and the pollution caused by the people. And so, to alleviate the effects of such human activities, and to maintain and preserve this natural site, the Government has passed laws that aim to protect the site.