Bryce Canyon National
Park
Term 3 Science Project
By: Zach Parrish and James Gilbert
Park Description
• Bryce Canyon is one of the five National Parks
located in Utah
• It covers a total area of 56 square miles.
• Although it is named Bryce Canyon, it is not really
a canyon. It is a giant natural amphitheater along
the eastern side of the Paunsaugunt Plateau.
• The red, orange and white rocks provide
spectacular scenery for visitors and
photographers.
• Bryce Canyons main rock types are beautiful
siltstone, limestone, dolomite and mudstone.
Bryce Canyon Maps
Formations of Bryce Canyon
• There are a plethora of fabulous rock formations
located in Bryce Canyon National Park.
• Some of the most famous formations in Bryce
Canyon are called hoodoos, which are pinnacles
and spires of sandstone that are left by erosion.
• Another type of rock formation in Bryce canyon is
the arch.
• The most famous arch examples in Bryce Canyon
are the Natural Bridge and the Wall of Windows.
Rock Formation Pictures
Arch
Hoodoos
Window
Famous Bryce Canyon Rock Formation
Pictures
Wall of Windows
Natural Bridge
Climate, Plants, and Animals
• Bryce Canyon is located at an extremely high
altitude of between 8,000 and 9,000 feet.
• The park receives significant snow from October
to March, and experiences cold temperatures as
low as -30 degrees Fahrenheit.
• More than 400 species of plants grow in the park.
• Mule Deer are the most common large animal in
the park. Black Bears, Mountain Lions, and many
small mammals are also present.
Causes of Rock Formations
• The rock in Bryce Canyon has been deposited, removed,
and eroded over millions of years.
• The rock layers have varying degrees of hardness.
• These layers are then eroded at different rates by weather
such as wind and rain.
• Roots of plants and trees have also helped to erode the
rock.
• Uplifts and faults form blocks in the plateaus that are then
weakened and carved by precipitation and streams.
• Frost wedging is the main force that causes hoodoos. When
it rains, water seeps into the rock. When it freezes, it
expands therefore cracking and prying the rock.
Rock Erosion
Geologic History
• The rocks in Bryce Canyon National Park were
formed during the cretaceous period, which
was about 144 million years ago.
• For over 60 million years, Bryce Canyon was
covered in a seaway.
• This seaway deposited many sediments that
are now seen in the park.
Park Activities
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Donkey Riding
Wildlife Observation
Scenic Hiking
Driving Tours
Stargazing
Photography
Visitors center
Interesting Facts
• Ebenezer Bryce is the founder of Bryce Canyon and it’s
named after him. He said the canyon would be a “heck
of a place to lose a cow.”
• One sad fact is that many of the pine trees in the park
have been infested by Bark Beetles and have died.
More trees will continue to die and there is no way to
prevent further damage.
• The Bryce Canyon National Park visitor center is open
every day of the year except for Thanksgiving and
Christmas.
• It is said that Hoodoo rocks are giants that come alive
during the night and throw rocks at intruders.
Interesting Facts Continued
• The air in the park is very clear. On most days,
visibility is approximately 90 miles. On extremely
clear days, you can see the Black Mesas of
eastern Arizona and western New Mexico that
are located 160 miles away.
• The park has a 7.4 magnitude night sky. This is
one of the darkest skies in North America. With
the dark sky and clear air, stargazers can see
7,500 stars with the naked eye. (In most places,
only about 2,000 stars can be seen.)
Sources
National Parks Services. NPS.GOV. 2006.
Web. 14 Feb. 2012. http://www.nps.gov
National Park Travel. NationalParkTravel.com
2012. Web. 14. Feb. 2012.
http://www.nationalparktravel.com
APN Media LLC. OhRanger.com. 2008. Web. 14
Feb. 2012.
http://www.ohranger.com/bryce-canyon
Sources… Continued
Bryce Canyon City. Brycecanyoncity.gov. 2008.
Web. 14 Feb. 2012.
http://www.brycecanyoncityut.gov/maps.html
Utah. Utah.com. 2012. Web. 15 Feb. 2012.
http://www.utah.com/nationalparks/bryce.htm
The End!!
Taste the
Rainbow!!!