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Bryce Canyon - a stunning US travel destination |
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Friday, 01 July 2005 |
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Page 1 of 2 Bryce Canyon is not a canyon. It is the spectacular edge of the Paunsaugunt
Plateau, a place where intricately carved towers and archways of stone shimmer
in a dazzling array of colour under the bright sun.
The state of Utah in the United States is home to many beautiful National Parks,
and Bryce Canyon National Park ranks as one of the most magnificent and awe
inspiring.
15 million years ago the earth in this region began to shift, forming a series
of plateaus. The Paunsaugunt is an extensive plateau, with the Paria River
gradually eroding away the edge to form Bryce Canyon.
The rock in Bryce Canyon is composed of layer after layer of sediment deposits,
deposited millions of years ago when the area was at the bottom of a lake. Now
the Paria River has exposed the layers, allowing a detailed history of the lake
to be determined.
The Park itself was established in 1924, and was named after an early settler in
the area, Ebenezer Bryce. He emigrated from Scotland, married a local girl then
moved southwards in stages, building sawmills as he went.
In the mid 1870s he reached the Paria River, where he and his family settled for
a number of years. It was at this time that Bryce made his immortal comment
about Bryce Canyon - he called it "one hell of a place to lose a cow".
The area remained basically undiscovered by European tourists, the first guest
houses only being constructed around the time when the park was officially
established.
Luckily this has led to Bryce Canyon being an area of largely unspoiled beauty,
as well as the enormous scientific value of the historic information trapped in
its pinnacles and spires.
The canyon is by no means a stagnant place - the rim recedes by an average of
about a foot every 50 years, and in this ever changing scene it is water that
plays the most vital role in the shaping and eventual destruction of the
magnificent scenery.
Because the rock was laid down in layers, there is a variation in the hardness
of the rock formed. When water runoff trickles across the rock, some areas erode
rapidly whereas others hold firm.
This variation in erosion speed causes the formation of pinnacles, or "hoodoos"
of stable rock. In some places the water seeps down through cracks and eats out
holes beneath the surface. When the side rock erodes away, an archway is left
behind.
Eventually the arch collapses, leaving two more pillars to join the rest. The
ever changing vista of colours, spires, walls and archways is spectacular at any
season, and the park is open all year round.
In the warmer months there are plenty of trails for the visitor to explore,
ranging from easy strolls to hard hikes. Some of the best trails are located in
the Bryce Amphitheatre, located near the entry to the park.
Here you can wander through the Queen's Garden, or gaze up at Queen Victoria
herself surveying the 'flowers' in her garden. Some of the most awe inspiring
lookouts are situated in this area, including Sunset Point and Inspiration Point
- a must for any visitor.
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