Video
Pa'rus Master Sculptor
Transcript
Hello.
My name is Ranger Riley,
standing here in Zion Canyon.
Through the process of water and erosion, these canyon walls continue to form each year. Whether it be springs that feed
the Virgin River, or storms that bring in snow and rain, all sources of water are necessary for this beautiful scenery.
The largest source of water here is the Virgin River, Each mile that the river travels, it drops an estimated 70ft in elevation. As it does this, removes an estimated 1 million tons of sediment each year.
The river may create a deeper canyon, However, the width comes from storms.
Storms bring in water that penetrate the canyon walls around us. During winter conditions, this creates a process called freeze thaw.
Freeze thaw is where the water that was absorbed in these cliffs starts to freeze. The freezing water turns to ice, and the ice will start to force the rocks around them to crack under pressure. This is a slower process than the Virgin River eroding away, but it is necessary for the width of the canyon to grow.
Whether it be snow, rain, or the Virgin River, all sources of water are important for this beautiful scenery.
Thank you for joining me here in Zion National Park.
Please be safe and have a great day.
Description
Join Ranger Riley to learn about how the Virgin River sculpts Zion Canyon.
Duration
1 minute, 26 seconds
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