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One way to see almost all the major environmental zones of the world would be to take a long hike.
You’d walk about 3,000 miles. You’d go from the Arctic Circle to Mexico! But it would a lot easier just to hike down the Grand Canyon.
What is the difference between the highest and lowest places in the canyon? About 8,000 feet! The highest is on the North Rim, and the lowest is at the western bottom. Freezing temperatures and snow are common in the winter at high altitudes. At the bottom in summer, temperatures can go over 100°F!
The canyon has a lot of different climates. That means it has a lot of different plant life too. Even at the same elevation, plants can very different. Some face north in cool, shaded places, while others face south in hot, dry areas.
9,000 Feet
◀ The canyon’s highest elevations are on the north side of the Colorado River. That area is called the Kaibab Plateau. Plant life there is a lot like it is near the Arctic Circle. It has forests of spruce, fir, and pine. Ponderosa pines can be 600 years old. Their bark smells like caramel, cinnamon, or vanilla. High up on the South Rim are forests of pine, fir, spruce, and aspen.
▲ Wild rose, wormwood, and gooseberry live on the forest floor at the top. Wildflowers grow in areas that get more sun. They include goldenrod and buttercup.
▲ Many year-round grasses and other plants such as lupines grow up high. Flowering herbs like yarrow and cinquefoil also grow here.
6,500–8,000 Feet
▲ There are stunted trees on both rims between 6,500 and 8,000 feet. Rocky soil and lack of water kept them from growing tall. What lives in this harsh place? Trees like Utah juniper, Gambel oak, and pinyon pine. Pinyon seeds are sold as “pine nuts.”
◀ ▲ What else grows between 6,500 and 8,000 feet? Many wildflowers, including yellow sunflowers, Indian paintbrush, and asters.
3,500–7,000 Feet
▲ This area has different climates. Higher up, temperatures may go below zero in winter and rise to 110°F in summer. Deciduous bushes grow well here. They include honey mesquite, scrub oak, and New Mexican locust. The area has berries, such as barberry and serviceberry. Creosote bushes and cliffrose shrubs grow well, too.
Below 3,500 Feet
◀ ▲ The lowest parts of the canyon are above the river channel. They are dry like a desert. The plants that survive there don’t need much water. The area has a lot of cacti. They have long, spongy roots and prickly leaves. Sweet fruit grows on the prickly pear and beavertail, which bloom in spring and late summer. The fruit has been used in jams and syrups for centuries. Some plants have ways of holding on to moisture to survive. Sagebrush has hairy leaves to hold in the water. Manzanita leaves have a waxlike coating that slows down evaporation. Other desert plants include the catclaw and rabbitbrush.
Thirsty shade trees grow on the beaches near the Colorado River. They include cottonwoods, willows, and more. ▶
