The Grand Canyon, How It Goes ?

Among beautiful forested landscapes surrounding the park and sculpted by the Colorado River; is the Grand Canyon, one of the most visited nature tourism places in the country.

Located in northwestern Arizona, the Grand Canyon National Park covers ​​approximately 4,926.08 km2. Inside the park, there is the Colorado River and different altitudes of sedimentary rocks, rocks with vast bands of colors in layers of rocks that reveal millions of years of geological history.

The Colorado River has a vast influence on the canyon shape. The river flows through the canyon; as the years go by with the wind and rain, it changes its form and shape. However, it is happening too slowly to see; these effects occur after many years of contact.

The Grand Canyon presents a great variety of climates because it has zones with different elevations that extend from around 2,000 feet to more than 8,000 feet. Although due to its desert conditions, its weather tends to be hot and dry.

Within the canyon and adjacent territories, there are around 91 species of mammals, 58 species of reptiles, 447 species of birds, and 18 species of fish (13 of them not native to the region).

The Grand Canyon is unmatched in views, is a principal monetary source for Arizona, attracting more than 6 million visitors a year and hundreds of millions of dollars in tourism revenue.

Image 1: The Grand Canyon exhibits some abstract beauty.

Current Issues

Massive tourism causes many inconveniences for the natural life of the area. People often do not worry and leave garbage in these remote places where there is no one to collect. Additionally, the people produce high vehicle traffic that disturbs the animals and peace.

The park was open in the United States about a century ago. The Colorado River was rich in native fish such as Chupitos and Chubs, which are not found anywhere else in the world. However, with the introduction of human hands, they were replaced by invasive Catfish and Bass that are more attractive to fish.

Climate change has also affected the river; the majestic river that forges one of the most emblematic landscapes in the United States is often reduced to a thread, even unable to fulfill its destiny of reaching the sea.

In the 1940s, with uranium fever, a massive mine was discovered within Grand Canyon Park. The material discovery led people to extract it and threaten the environment. Damage the natural stability of the region. The Trump administration took steps to boost uranium mining for national security reasons, an attempt to open the door to mining near the Grand Canyon, as the mining plant is already built although idle these days.

The Uranium Canyon mine location is under ​​the national forest area near the Grand Canyon National Park. From the first mining drilling until its shutdown in 2012, more than 30 million gallons of floodwater containing high levels of uranium and arsenic have been pumped from the aluminum well.

Canyon Mine is currently closed; under a temporary ban on mining on public lands around the canyon; this ban was only for 20 years, environmentalists call for a permanent ban on mining. But its groundwater problems remain a perfect example of why uranium mining is too risky for this region. Uranium is soluble in water; when they come together, they mix, the water carries the uranium wherever it goes.

Image 2: Currently, there is a disabled uranium mine built in the Grand Canyon.

Pumping and groundwater contamination endanger drinking water, springs, and tributary streams. As the water quality worsens, the indigenous peoples suffer; those who call the canyon home include the Navajo, Hopi, Tewa, and Havasupai tribes.

On the other hand, reports indicate surprising and frequent air pollution cases where the cloud of mist often hangs over the Grand Canyon and other areas protected by the federal government. Pollution causes visibility problems and, at the same time, has the great potential to affect the health of living organisms that interact with it.

The Grand Canyon is one of the most dangerous natural parks worldwide. Since 2010, 134 deaths have occurred. The rock faces are staggeringly steep, plunging over a mile into the choppy Colorado River, the falls causing 27 deaths in the Grand Canyon over the past decade.

As a result of extreme summer heat, people suffer major medical problems. The extreme temperatures provoke natural deaths, can deep in the canyon, potentially causing or aggravating the population health problems.

There is no easy hike in the Grand Canyon. Rangers respond to 216 hiker assists, 37 inner canyon trail helicopter medical evacuations; in the past month alone.

Hikers who carry heavy backpacks or who do not routinely train to run on steep slopes are more susceptible to muscle cramps and may suffer rhabdomyolysis. Wich involves the breakdown of muscles, often damages and clogs the kidneys, and can cause other short-term or long-term health problems.

In the week of 5/4/2021, the maximum temperatures can reach 80 to 90 degrees, usually due to its desert environment. These are extreme exercise temperatures that could be lethal for inexperienced athletes, even represent a liability for professional sports.

Tourists have to drink enough while walking, carry a reasonable backpack weight and travel at a pace that their body and physical condition can adapt. Having an alternative self-rescue plan is essential since rescue is not guaranteed and is not always available in these areas.

Image 3: Historical photos show rescues to mountain hikers who had problems.

Less pollution and cooler temperatures are in the spring or late fall season when there are not many visitors in the park. The people must recognize the capacities of their own body and how long it lasts to walk. Avoiding the hottest part of the day can be an option to guarantee the tourists' safety.

The stability of the natural environment is not only affected by animal extinction. In Gran Caños Park, the Bison on the north edge of the park has been able to reproduce vastly, causing an exaggerated population that becomes, in the same way, an environmental complication for natural stability. Previously, the park has implemented removal efforts to reach its bison population goal of 200 individuals. However, the herd currently numbers around 600 individuals. During the last two years, the state of Arizona (responsible for the park) has managed to eliminate 88 bison from the area, which implies their transfer and relocation.

Whatever, it is a reserve and natural paradise, it has not saved it from suffering the crises caused by environmental damage, deforestation, and plastic pollution that are frequently on its trails and public areas. With the increase in tourism, this will not improve unless the population is made aware. On the other hand, the effects of air pollution and global warming are getting closer to these areas each day. Desert areas are more dangerous in the climate changes since they can reach much more extreme weather, endangering most of the living species in the area.

Freshwater systems are highly dependent on human beings; they must be cared for to preserve drinking water, food, and sanitation. The protection of rivers and water sources corresponds to all of us, to a greater extent to the governments who can establish rules that favor their conservation.

References

• Outside. Emily Pennington. These Are the 5 Deadliest National Parks.  Apr 8, 2021. Link https://www.outsideonline.com/2422126/deadliest-national-parks.

• KNAU. Ryan Heinsius. On The Latest Effort To Ban New Uranium Mining Near Grand Canyon. Mar 11, 2021. Link https://www.knau.org/post/rep-ra-l-grijalva-latest-effort-ban-new-uranium-mining-near-grand-canyon.

• BBC. News. Grand Canyon fatal helicopter crash 'probably caused by wind. 15 January. Link https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-sussex-55674015.

• Nat Geo. Stefan Lovgren. Rivers and lakes are the most degraded ecosystems in the world. Can we save them?. March 1, 2021. Link https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/rivers-and-lakes-are-most-degraded-ecosystems-in-world-can-we-save-them.

• National Parks Traveler. Kurt Repanshek. 2nd Annual Threatened And Endangered Parks: Overcrowding And Visitor Management. January 1st, 2021. Link https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/2021/01/2nd-annual-threatened-and-endangered-parks-overcrowding-and-visitor-management.

• National Park Service. Grand Canyon National Park. Alerts In Effect. June 4, 2021. Link https://www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm.

• Grand Canyon Trust Organization. Megan Kelly. Uranium Mine Flooding Near Grand Canyon. April 06, 2021. Link https://www.grandcanyontrust.org/blog/uranium-mine-flooding-near-grand-canyon.

• Phoenix New Times. Miriam Wasser. Federal Judge Orders Arizona to Clean Up Grand Canyon Air Pollution. February 26, 2016, | 5:30AM. Link https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/federal-judge-orders-arizona-to-clean-up-grand-canyon-air-pollution-8084739.

• Wild Life Organization. Laura Bies. Bison to be removed from Grand Canyon’s north rim. October 21, 2020. Link https://wildlife.org/bison-to-be-removed-from-grand-canyons-north-rim/.