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