Oak Arbor Visits Arizona ~
The students from Oak Arbor Middle School spent 5 days in Arizona. They began their trip by first stopping at Montezuma's castle, a Native American cliff dwelling. From there they proceeded to the fun filled freezing "Slide Rock" where they all plunged into subzero temperatures and slid down the rock slide. The day ended in Flagstaff where they went to the Lowell Observatory and viewed a beautiful dark night sky. The following morning they went to visit Sunset Crater Volcano and learn about the volcanic history in Arizona. From Sunset Crater they drove past the San Francisco Peaks, a large volcanic mountain range, and on to Wupatki National Monument, a Pueblo Indian dwelling. That evening they arrived at Grand Canyon and witnessed the sunsetting over the magnificent canyon! The next two days they spent hiking in Grand Canyon and learning from a professional Grand Canyon Field Institute guide, Ken Walters. On Thursday after their second trek into the canyon, they drove down to Prescott, Arizona and viewed the beautiful Granite Dells. The Dells are large boulders of granite that are exposed bedrock that have eroded into an unusual lumpy, rippled appearance. This was the last of the learning opportunities. They all then retired to the hotel to prepare for the flight home the following morning.
Student Expectations
Each student had a topic on geology that they had researched prior to the trip. They each went armed with questions for the professionals in Arizona. While at Sunset Crater and Grand Canyon they asked their questions, took notes on material relevant to their topic and took relevant photos. This website is the result of all their hard work. We hope you enjoy experiencing the geology of Arizona through their work.
Each student had a topic on geology that they had researched prior to the trip. They each went armed with questions for the professionals in Arizona. While at Sunset Crater and Grand Canyon they asked their questions, took notes on material relevant to their topic and took relevant photos. This website is the result of all their hard work. We hope you enjoy experiencing the geology of Arizona through their work.
Sunset Crater ~ Baby Volcano
Sunset Crater is a young cinder cone volcano that sits in the north central region of Arizona, just southeast of Grand Canyon. It is a part of the San Francisco Peaks range which comprises some 600 volcanoes, ranging in age from 6 million years old to 1,000 years old. Sunset Crater is the youngest of these being a mere 1,000 years old. This volcanic field appears to have been driven by a hotspot that lies beneath the earth's crust. It is likely that some day in the not too distant future there will be another eruption in this region but it is very difficult to predict when and where. This is a very active, fun, and important sight for volcanologists.
Sunset Crater is a young cinder cone volcano that sits in the north central region of Arizona, just southeast of Grand Canyon. It is a part of the San Francisco Peaks range which comprises some 600 volcanoes, ranging in age from 6 million years old to 1,000 years old. Sunset Crater is the youngest of these being a mere 1,000 years old. This volcanic field appears to have been driven by a hotspot that lies beneath the earth's crust. It is likely that some day in the not too distant future there will be another eruption in this region but it is very difficult to predict when and where. This is a very active, fun, and important sight for volcanologists.
The Wonderful Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon, which is a "big 'ol crack in the ground", is one of the 7 natural wonders of the world. It is located in the northwest corner of Arizona (due east of Las Vegas) in the Colorado Plateau, a region of land that is cut by the Colorado River.
General Information on Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon is a stirring and awe inspiring natural wonder that at first sighting seems unreal. One student said that it seemed like a picture. "It was so beautiful it couldn't be real." It didn't feel real until she was hiking down into the canyon.
The canyon is an immense steep sided canyon that has been partially carved by the Colorado River. It is well known for it's overwhelming size, the beautiful colors and erosional forms that have resulted from the forces of the river. It is geologically significant because of the well preserved and exposed rock layers. These rock layers teach us much about the early geologic history of the North American continent.
The canyon is an immense steep sided canyon that has been partially carved by the Colorado River. It is well known for it's overwhelming size, the beautiful colors and erosional forms that have resulted from the forces of the river. It is geologically significant because of the well preserved and exposed rock layers. These rock layers teach us much about the early geologic history of the North American continent.