Tower of Ra facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tower of Ra |
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South aspect, from Hermits Rest on South Rim
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 6,129 ft (1,868 m) |
| Prominence | 709 ft (216 m) |
| Isolation | 0.97 mi (1.56 km) |
| Parent peak | Osiris Temple (6,613 ft) |
| Geography | |
 Tower of Ra
Location in Arizona
Tower of Ra
Location in the United States
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| Location | Grand Canyon National Park Coconino County, Arizona, US |
| Parent range | Kaibab Plateau Colorado Plateau |
| Topo map | USGS Shiva Temple |
| Type of rock | sandstone, siltstone, mudstone |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1977 |
| Easiest route | class 5.1 climbing |
Tower of Ra is a tall, pillar-shaped rock formation in the Grand Canyon. It stands 6,129 feet (about 1,868 meters) high. You can find it in Coconino County, Arizona, in the USA. This impressive tower is located about five miles north of the Pima Point overlook on the canyon's South Rim. It rises more than 3,700 feet (about 1,130 meters) above the Colorado River.
Contents
About Tower of Ra
How it Got its Name
Tower of Ra was named in 1879 by an artist named Thomas Moran. He named it after Ra, who was the ancient Egyptian god of the sun. This naming idea came from Clarence Dutton. He was a geologist who started the tradition of naming places in the Grand Canyon after gods and goddesses from old myths. The name "Tower of Ra" was officially accepted in 1906 by the United States Board on Geographic Names.
First Climbers
The first time anyone successfully climbed to the top of Tower of Ra was in 1977. The climbers were Jim Haggart, Art Christiansen, and Barbara Zinn.
What the Weather is Like
The climate around Tower of Ra is known as a Cold semi-arid climate. This means it's usually dry, but not a true desert, and it can get quite cold, especially in winter.
What Tower of Ra is Made Of
The very top part of Tower of Ra is made of reddish rock layers called the Supai Group. These rocks formed during the Pennsylvanian and Permian periods, which were millions of years ago.
As you go further down the tower, you'll see different layers of rock:
- Below the Supai Group is the Redwall Limestone. This rock formed during the Mississippian period.
- Even lower are layers from the Cambrian period, known as the Tonto Group.
- At the very bottom, near the river, you'll find much older rock called the Vishnu Basement Rocks. These are made of granite and formed during the Paleoproterozoic era, which was billions of years ago.
When it rains, the water flows off Tower of Ra. This water, called runoff, travels south into the Colorado River through Crystal and Ninetyfour Mile Creeks.
