Canyonlands National Park Utah
Canyonlands is divided into four districts, Islands in the Sky, the Needles, the Maze, and the Rivers. Each district is part of the desert landscape that was created by the Green and Colorado Rivers. Canyonlands National Park encompasses 337,598 acres of high dessert of the Colorado Plateau that ranges in elevation from 3,700 to 7,200 feet above sea level.
Canyonlands National Park’s mazes, buttes, rivers, arches, pinnacles and rivers all come together into an amazing geological landscape. The creation of Canyonlands occurred during the uplift of the Colorado Plateau and the cracking of the earth allowed melted rock to rise and cool creating igneous rock surrounded by sedimentary rock. Over time erosion exposed the rock and the water of the Green and Colorado rivers began to create the canyon.
The flora and fauna of Canyonlands has adapted to survive in the extreme weather of the high cold dessert. The winters are extremely cold and the summers are extremely hot. In addition, the daily temperature can vary up to 50 degrees. Add in the average amount of rain fall per of 9 inches and you have an environment that is challenging to live in. Still, there are many birds and small mammals that make Canyonlands home. The rivers also provide a habitat for many endangered fish.
Dessert plants have also adapted to living in the dry high dessert. There are plants like the Utah Juniper that can divert fluid to one or more of its’ branches to conserve water so the tree can survive. Other plants will only grow if there is enough water in a given year. Still others have modified leaves that are more like spines that lose less moisture to the air and solar radiation. The Yuccas have extensive taproots that allow it to access water deep in the ground.
We only visited the Islands in the Sky region of the park since it was the most accessible area. The other regions are only reached by hiking, off road vehicles or by boat. For me the canyon was visually magnificent. The colors of the rock layers told the story of how the canyon was created over time. The plant life that adapted to the harsh environment is a testament to survival. The rivers are a reminder of the tremendous force that water can exert on the land.
Canyonlands National Park in Utah has something to offer to anyone that wants to explore this beautiful place. For more information about the park, click on the links below.
https://www.nps.gov/cany/index.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canyonlands_National_Park