Fishtail Mesa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Fishtail Mesa
Fishtail Mesa & Fishtail Canyon-(east)
Fishtail.Mesa Location in Arizona
Floor elevation	5,971 ft (1,820 m)
Length	~3.0 miles south-southwest by north-northeast, (fishtailing southwest)
Width	~0.8 miles
Area	439 hectares (1.69 mi2)
Geology
Age	Permian down to Cambrian: Kaibab Limestone, Toroweap Formation, Coconino Sandstone, Hermit Shale, Supai Group, Redwall Limestone, Tonto Group-(3 units) 3_Muav Limestone, 2_Bright Angel Shale, 1_Tapeats Sandstone
Geography
Location	(west)-Grand Canyon, (northern)-Arizona, United States
Topo map	Fishtail Mesa, USGS
Rivers	Fishtail Creek (Canyon) Kanab Creek

Fishtail Mesa is a long, narrow plateau located in the western part of the Grand Canyon. It's found in Coconino County, in northern Arizona, United States. This mesa is about 2 miles east of Kanab Point. It's also near where Kanab Creek, a big river from southern Utah, flows into the Colorado River.

Fishtail Mesa is part of the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. It lies about 4 miles west of Deer Creek and its beautiful falls. Deer Creek Falls is a popular spot for people rafting on the Colorado River. The mesa runs in a southwest direction and forms the edge of Fishtail Canyon. Near the Colorado River, you can find the Fishtail Rapids, which are small rapids in the river. Other nearby landmarks include Paguekwash Point, about 5 miles southwest, and Mount Sinyella, about 8 miles south-southwest. Mount Sinyella is on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

What Rocks Make Up Fishtail Mesa?

Fishtail Mesa is mostly made of flat layers of rock. The top layer is called the Kaibab Limestone. This rock forms tall cliffs and flat platforms. Below it is the Coconino Sandstone, which also creates cliffs. Between these two rock layers is the Toroweap Formation. This layer usually forms slopes rather than steep cliffs.

Layers Below the Coconino Sandstone

Below the Coconino Sandstone, you'll see slopes of a dark reddish-brown rock called the Hermit Formation (or Hermit Shale). This layer is as thick as the Coconino Sandstone. Its bright colors really stand out. It sits on top of the Supai Group of rocks. The fourth and hardest layer of the Supai Group is the Esplanade Sandstone, which forms another strong cliff. Along the southeast cliffs of Fishtail Canyon, there's another rock shelf. This shelf is made of the second unit of the Supai Group, called the Manakacha Formation. So, you can see how different cliff-forming rocks are layered with slope-forming rocks.

Even Deeper Rock Layers

The Supai Group rests on a flat layer of rock called the Redwall Limestone. This rock forms huge cliffs, especially in the eastern Grand Canyon. Below the Redwall, there's a short cliff of Muav Limestone. This rock also forms flat platforms. Finally, below that are the slopes of the Bright Angel Shale, which forms gentle slopes.

Why is Fishtail Mesa Special for Nature?

Fishtail Mesa is a very special place for studying nature. It has not been greatly changed by people visiting or by animals grazing there. Because of this, scientists have studied it as a "relict biological site." This means it's a place where plants and animals have lived undisturbed for a long time.

Plant Life on the Mesa

Scientists first studied the plants on Fishtail Mesa in 1958. They came back in 1996 to see how the plant species had changed over time. The mesa has two main types of trees:

• Pinõn Pine (Pinus edulis)
• Utah Juniper (Juniperus osteosperma)

Below these trees, you can find other plants like:

• Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata)
• Mutton Grass (Poa fendleriana)
• Torrey Joint-fir
• Prickly Pear cactus
• Snakeweed