Colorado Plateau - Geography

Arizona GeographyGCU 221

• Northwestern Colorado Plateau: Landforms: Grand Canyon goodies

Humans: Route 66 and Kingman

• Northern Colorado Plateau:Landforms: San Francisco volcanic field, and more GC

Humans: Flagstaff and Williams

• Northeastern Colorado Plateau:Landforms: Monument Valley and Grand Falls

Humans: Navajo, Hopi (covered earlier)

Colorado Plateau - Geography

Northwestern Colorado Plateau

Landforms - Western Grand Canyon• Hurricane Fault – most active in Arizona• Vulcan’s Throne – Volcanism and lava dams in

the Grand Canyon, 3 Ma to the present• Paleo-channels - that came from the Mogollon

Highlands• Havasu Falls – continuous deposition of

calcium carbonate in the water causes agradation and eventually waterfalls.

• Surprise Canyon Landslide – Largest in Arizona

Humans Route 66 – Established 1926

Humans Kingman, AZ founded in 1882

History• Founded part of an

early railroad, Beale’s Springs• Andy Devine - Actor• Mojave County Seat

and big Hospital

Northern Colorado Plateau

Landforms – Northern Colorado Plateau• San Francisco Volcanic Field – An active

volcanic field responsible for the Peaks, SP Crater, Sunset Crater, from 6 million years to present.

• Grand Falls – 150,000 years ago, a lava flow from Merriam Crater poured into the Little Colorado River, damming and re-directing the river to flow around, forming the water fall.

Humans Flagstaff, AZ founded in 1876History

• Ponderosa Flag Pole• Lowell Observatory• Coconino County Seat,

Northern Arizona University, biggest hospital on the Colorado Plateau

Humans Williams, AZ founded in 1876History

• Originally a big lumber town• Route 66 stop• Bypassed by I-40 and

saved by the Grand Canyon Railway

Northeastern Colorado Plateau

Humans Navajo and Hopi

Landforms – Northeastern Colorado Plateau

• Monument Valley – Retreat of a layered rocks as scarps, at different rates and different resistance, generate the cool buttes.

• Marble Canyon Reconstruction – Moenkopi / Shinarump Scarp retreat, and drainage reconstruction

Things to know:

Help: Ask Dr. Douglass

• Northwestern Colorado Plateau: Landforms: Grand Canyon goodies

Humans: Route 66 and Kingman

• Northern Colorado Plateau:Landforms: San Francisco volcanic field, and more GC

Humans: Flagstaff and Williams

• Northeastern Colorado Plateau:Landforms: Monument Valley and Grand Falls

Humans: Navajo, Hopi (covered earlier)

Transition Zone - Geography

Arizona GeographyGCU 221

• Western Transition Zone: Landforms: Big Sandy River Highway 93Vegetation: Joshua Trees Highway 93

Humans: Bagdad and Bullhead City

• Central Transition Zone:Landforms: Agua Fria N.M. and Fossil Creek

Humans: Strawberry and Arcosanti

• Eastern Transition Zone:Landforms: Black River and Big Lake

Humans: Alpine and Morenci

Transition Zone- Geography

Things to know:• Western Transition Zone:

Landforms: Big Sandy River Highway 93Vegetation: Joshua Trees Highway 93

Humans: Bagdad and Bullhead City

• Central Transition Zone:Landforms: Agua Fria N.M. and Fossil Creek

Humans: Strawberry and Arcosanti

• Eastern Transition Zone:Landforms: Black River and Big Lake

Humans: Alpine and Morenci

Basin and Range- Geography

Arizona GeographyGCU 221

• Western Basin and Range: Landforms: Pinacate and Kofa Mountains

Humans: Yuma and Lake Havasu

• Central Basin and Range:Landforms: Organ Pipe and Eagle Tail Mountains

Humans: Ajo and Gila Bend (Butterfield Trail)

• Eastern Basin and Range:Landforms: Chiricahua and Catalina Mountains

Humans: Bisbee and Sierra Vista

Basin and Range - Geography

• Western Basin and Range: Landforms: Pinacate and Kofa Mountains

Humans: Yuma and Lake Havasu

• Central Basin and Range:Landforms: Organ Pipe and Eagle Tail Mountains

Humans: Ajo and Gila Bend (Butterfield Trail)

• Eastern Basin and Range:Landforms: Chiricahua and Catalina Mountains

Humans: Bisbee and Sierra Vista

Basin and Range - Geography