| A designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, Grand | | | | paleontological, archeological and geological information |
| Canyon is famous for the rock coloration and | | | | and resources. |
| formation that is unique to the site. This steep sided | | | | The Grand Canyon actually consists of several |
| gorge has a width of 0.2-29 km and extends from | | | | ecosystems like desert riparian communities and |
| the Grand Wash Cliffs to northern Arizona which is | | | | boreal forest. It is also home to a number of endemic |
| about 446 km. The deepest part of the canyon is | | | | and rare species of both plants and animals. In the |
| situated at the center of the Grand Canyon National | | | | Grand Canyon National Park, there are about 88 |
| Park and has a depth of 90km. This section covers | | | | mammal, 335 bird, 9 amphibian, 47 reptile, 17 fish and |
| the length of the rivers from Lake Mead to Lake | | | | 1,500 plant species protected and sheltered by the |
| Powell. | | | | park. This biological diversity that is one of its |
| Grand Canyon is composed of semi-arid land and | | | | hallmarks is due to the five life zones and three |
| consists of structural basins and raised plateaus that | | | | desert types found in North America. Examples of |
| are typical to this region. There are also a number of | | | | the representation of these life zones include the |
| steep-walled canyons caused by drainage systems | | | | Upper Sonoran, Lower Sonoran, Canadian, Hudsonian |
| that have deeply cut through the rocks. Despite | | | | and Transition areas. |
| knowing this, there are still parts of the history of | | | | The activities of the people living in the surrounding |
| this site that remains a mystery and is still the | | | | areas of the Grand Canyon have affected this |
| subject of many debates. Apparently, despite the | | | | heritage site in a number of ways. In some areas, |
| information gathered about this site, the geologists | | | | farmers have reclaimed desert, turning it into farm |
| and scientist still cannot arrive at a consensus for | | | | and ranchland. This has led to the growth of wild |
| example, about the age of the Canyon. However, | | | | plants that do not belong to the natural flora of the |
| they cannot deny that this site is geologically | | | | area and the pollution caused by the people. And so, |
| significant. It is like a natural museum full of diverse | | | | to alleviate the effects of such human activities, and |
| fossil records, a wide variety of rock types, an | | | | to maintain and preserve this natural site, the |
| outstanding record book of the past three to four | | | | Government has passed laws that aim to protect the |
| geologic eras and a number of caves rich in biological, | | | | site. |