https://goo.gl/maps/VaF4rhZfuNqSZzYV6
Over Thanksgiving break, I visited my Grandmother in Arizona. We decided to see the Grand Canyon since the weather was absolutely beautiful. It was a crisp 45 degrees and the sky was clear and bright blue.
As I stood near the edge of the canyon, I looked around and compared my new spot to my spot here in Burlington. The first major difference I noticed was the lack of moisture in this section of the canyon. The only water present was the meandering Colorado river which I could see peaking past the sandstone and limestone ledges below me. The soil was dry wherever I stepped, in fact, Im not sure if most of what I was walking on was soil, it seemed to be the eroded material of the bright limestone layer that the trail was formed on. This material made it seemingly hard for plants to root along the canyons edge. As I took a closer look however, the shrubs and small trees seemed to thrive and be able to wrap around rocks and really dig in for some reason. Some of the common flora I found were the Utah Juniper tree, the Pinyon Pine, the Fernbush, Big Sagebrush, and plenty of cacti of course. All these plants are able to thrive with very small amounts of annual rainfall, however they serve important rolls in preventing erosion, keeping moisture in the ecosystem, and providing habitats for animals. I saw lots of birds, the only of which I could identify were these huge ravens. I observed what I think was coyote scat slightly off of one trail. I saw some cute chipmunks as well. These chipmunks reminded me of my spot in Vermont, since I often see chipmunks in forest that surrounds my stream. Obviously one big difference between my two spots was the arid climate of the Grand Canyon. One might think that this lack of water would prohibit the survival of wildlife, but when I compared my two spots, the Grand Canyon was way more rich in plant and animal species. I think that the size or scale of my blogspot here in Burlington doesnt allow for the survival of so many creatures in the same way the Grand Canyon does. I am so thankful I was able to see such a beautiful part of our country and do it with the people I love. As always, the pictures I took dont do the canyon justice, it’s just something you have to see with your own two eyes. Thanks for reading!
