CHAPTER ONE A RIVER CARVES A CANYON At Grand Canyon National Park there are many things to explore and experience The Colorado River cuts through the park It divides the park into northern and southern sections Along the South Rim near Bright Angel Trail a park ranger points out a fossil in a rock to curious visitors Elsewhere a field biologist tracks a California condor She sweeps an antenna back and forth Soon The South Kaibab Trail offers beautiful panoramic views of the canyon
her receiver picks up a signal Nearby tourists grab their binoculars They are excited to spot the endangered raptor in midflight Farther east hikers trek down the South Kaibab Trail They see the Colorado River below On the river life-jacketed rafters approach rapids Their stomachs tense in excitement Elsewhere in the park on the canyon’s North Rim a tourist catches her breath She looks around in awe of the sunset-colored 6 Saving the California Condors In 1982 California condors faced extinction Twenty-two wild condors survived worldwide Researchers blamed habitat loss and hunters An effort was made to save the birds Condors were captured and bred by biologists at California zoos In 1996 six captive-bred condors were released near the Grand Canyon at Vermilion Cliffs The condors wear radio transmitters for monitoring Accidental lead poisoning is the biggest threat to their survival Hunters leave gut piles with lead bullet fragments where condors feed More than 400 condors survive worldwide today Three mating pairs nest within the park
buttes mesas spires and temples Discover the Grand Canyon Grand Canyon National Park is in northwestern Arizona The Colorado River created the canyon The water began cutting through Earth’s crust 6 million years ago Over time the river’s swift waters wore away stone Measured by the river the park is 277 miles 446 km long At its widest point the Grand Canyon measures 18 miles 29 km across It is 1 mile 1 6 km deep The Grand Canyon is so big astronauts can see it from space 7 PERSPECTIVES Endangered Water Supply The Trans-Canyon Pipeline supplies all drinking water in Grand Canyon National Park It was built in the late 1960s It was meant to last 30 years Leaks and breaks in the pipeline are common In 2015 crews began replacing the worst section at the bottom of the canyon near Phantom Ranch Replacing the pipeline is expensive and dangerous But it will ensure reliable water for the millions of visitors to the park and for the thousands of park employees who live at the Grand Canyon
