Darwin Plateau facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Darwin Plateau |
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Mount Huethawali
upon the Darwin Plateau |
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 Darwin Plateau
Location in Arizona
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| Floor elevation | 5,508 ft (1,679 m) |
| Length | ~1.25 ;mi ~circular (surrounding Mount Huethawali) |
| Width | ~1.25 mi |
| Geography | |
| Location | (west)-Grand Canyon, (northern)-Arizona, United States |
| Topo map | Explorers Monument, USGS |
| Rivers | Garnet Creek, Copper Creek (Arizona)-(Evolution Amphitheater), Bass Creek (Arizona) |
The Darwin Plateau is a mostly round, flat area of land located in the famous Grand Canyon in Arizona, United States. It's like a natural platform that surrounds the bottom of a mountain called Mount Huethawali. This plateau is quite small, usually about 0.75 to 1.25 miles wide.
Mount Huethawali itself takes up about a quarter of the Darwin Plateau. The plateau wraps around the mountain, especially on its southwest, south, and southeast sides.
Where is the Darwin Plateau?
The Darwin Plateau is found in the western part of the Grand Canyon. It's about 0.75 miles northwest of a place called the Grand Scenic Divide. The mighty Colorado River flows about 2.0 miles to the west of the plateau.
Nearby Landforms
North of Mount Huethawali, there are two other flat areas that are similar in height to the Darwin Plateau. These are called Spencer Terrace and Huxley Terrace. Spencer Terrace is to the north-northwest, and Huxley Terrace is to the northeast. Huxley Terrace also forms the western edge of the Grand Scenic Divide.
What is the Darwin Plateau Made Of?
The Darwin Plateau, along with Spencer Terrace and Huxley Terrace, is made from a specific type of rock. This rock is part of something called the Supai Group. More precisely, it's made of the Esplanade Sandstone.
The Esplanade Sandstone is known for forming both tall cliffs and flat platforms. If you ever read about trails in the Grand Canyon, you might hear them described as being "on the Esplanade." This refers to the large, flat rock layers like those found on the Darwin Plateau. Another famous "Esplanade" platform is located across from Toroweap Overlook on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
