Educational Resources
Grand Canyon Area
Lake Mead
The forces that have shaped the area around Lake Mead include collisions between continents, extension that stretched and fractured the Earth’s crust, volcanic eruptions, inundation by tropical seas, growth and decline of great deserts and lakes, and finally, sculpting of the land by water and wind. Evidence of these processes is dramatically displayed in Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
Guided Hoover Dam Tour
Grand Classroom participants take the "Discovery Tour" at Hoover dam that allows them to hear a lectured presentation by professional guides, access to the Exhibit Hall, Visitor's Center, the indoor/outdoor observations decks and a 25 minute movie on the dam's original construction.
Viewing this magnificent, massive man made structure creates a respect for man's accomplishments. The strong desire to harness nature's power drove the human mind and body to build Hoover Dam in the hottest, driest area of the United States. In doing so, the seasonal flooding of the Colorado River was eliminated and millions of people now have drinking water and irrigation during the dry season. Students learn how the builders triumphed over environmental and engineering difficulties to complete the monumental task to build the largest dam known to man in 1935.
Grand Canyon Flora and Fauna
Since Grand Canyon spans over 8,000 ft. in elevation, it harbors wildlife whose habitat range from arid desert to mountainous environments. Three main regions characterize the environments local to Grand Canyon: 1. The Rim or Coniferous Forest Region, 2. The Inner Canyon or Desert Scrub Region, and 3. The Colorado River and Inner Gorge, or Riparian Region. Within each region lies a distinct group of plant and animal life.
The Rim or Coniferous Forest Region
The region highest in elevation is home to over 50 species of mammals, numerous birds, several amphibians, and many reptiles. More prominent mammal species include several types of squirrels, including the more common red squirrels and Albert squirrels, mule deer, elk, and coyote. Around 90 species of birds inhabit this region with some of the more ubiquitous including the red-tailed hawk. The golden eagle and raven are common sights around the area as well. Perhaps the most intriguing bird of the region is the endangered California condor. With fewer than 200 presently in existence, it was reintroduced to the region in 1996. The California condor is North America’s largest land bird. Countless varieties of insects and arachnids occupy the region as well. Honey bees, orange paper wasps, beetles, black ants, swallowtail and monarch butterflies are commonly seen. Garden spiders, black widows, and tarantulas can also be found at this elevation.
Plants and trees of this region share in the diversity of the animals and insects. Most trees and shrubs dwell in higher elevations of the North and South Rims. Examples of indigenous trees and shrubs include white fir, Douglas fir, blue spruce, ponderosa pine, Utah juniper, Colorado pinyon, and Arizona walnut. Shrubs like fernbush, boxelder, catclaw acacia, chokeberry, netleaf hackberry, big sagebrush, and birchleaf buckthorn can be found in the region as well.