Capitol+Reef

Capitol Reef By Bianca W. and Anna Z.

Introduction
 * Location:** Capitol Reef is 70 miles long 3 and located in south-central Utah 3,6 . Highway 24 runs through its center, and it is located near the towns of Torrey and Teasdale 6 . It also borders Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument 3.


 * Uniqueness and purpose as a National Park:** Erosion of the Waterpocket Fold has shaped the rock in the area to form interesting, beautiful figures 6 . It was established as a National Park in order to protect these features 4.


 * Highlighted features:** There are a number of especially interesting attractions at Capitol Reef.


 * The __Waterpocket Fold__ is a swelling of the Earth's crust that has eroded to form all of the park's features. 2,4,6
 * __Capitol Dome__ is a dome created out of white sandstone that resembles the U.S. Capitol Building. 2
 * __Chimney Rock__ is a 400 foot tall pillar of sandstone. 5,6
 * __Hickman Bridge__ is a large natural arch. 5,6
 * The __Fremont Petroglyphs__ are drawings etched into the sandstone by ancient people around 1000 years ago. 5,6


 * Specific trails:** There are over 18 hiking trails6, including Capitol Gorge, Cassidy Arch, and Chimney Arch trails. 4,5,6


 * Topography**: This map displays a section of the park. As it displays, there is a flat valley with a high elevation (around 5500 feet above sea level). On either side of this valley, there is a rapid increase in elevation, forming what seems to be cliffs and rugged looking rock formations in addition to canyons and slight depressions. There is also a stream, Sulpher Creek, running through the park. Click on the map to view a larger version.

GEOLOGIC HISTORY


 * Unique geologic features: The most unique feature of the park is the Waterpocket Fold, which is a monocline. Monoclines are folds in Earth's crust that are step-like and span over otherwise horizontal sedimentary rock. It tilts the rocks and creates a layered look 3,4 . This was formed when mountain building occurred to the north, reactivating an ancient fault which caused the overlying rock layers to be overlain above the fault4. Other features include canyons, white domes, monoliths, rocky cliffs, spires of sandstone, and ridges. 4,6 **


 * Bedrock of the area:** The bedrock is 270 to 80 million years old 4, meaning it formed during the Permian through the Cretaceous periods and the late Paleozoic through the Mesozoic eras 17 . All of this bedrock is clastic sedimentary rock, meaning it is made of weathered bits of rocks and minerals 17 . The rock found in Capitol Reef is medium to very fine grained made up of sand and mud. Specific types of rock found in Capitol Reef are Navajo Sandstone, Chinle Formation, and Manclos Shale 4.


 * How these features formed**: Capitol Reef's formations were formed through a number of different processes.


 * __WATER EROSION:__ In such dry areas, streams don't always exist. Ephermal streams, also known as arroyos or washes, carry water only after it rains 14 . On many occasions, there will be flash floods 4 . Since the soil in the park can't absorb water very well and there is little vegetation, water will run off easily. In both of these cases, the soil is not secured well to the ground due to the lack of vegetation, and is easily lifted by the running water and carried until the velocity slows enough to deposit them. Along the way, these particles will grind against the rock it travels on, and due to abrasion, rock will be eroded. 17 This is the main source of erosion in Capitol Reef 4.
 * __WIND EROSION:__ Wind is a minor source of erosion in Capitol Reef 4 . It lifts loose particles and carries them until the velocity of the wind slows enough to deposit them. In some cases, desert pavement is formed when the wind picks up the smaller particles (they are easier for the wind to carry due to their light weight) and leaves the coarser ones behind. Over time, this will produce a deflated landscape that resembles pavement. Crossbeds are also formed by wind, as they are inclined, sloping layers that are tilted in the direction of the wind. Over time and with pressure, they harden into rock. 17
 * __GLACIAL EROSION:__ Igneous rocks have been found in Capitol Reef. This stratified drift was brought to Utah by glaciers, which picked the rocks up during their travels and were carried near the bottom of the glacier. When the glacier melted, the stream water picked up the deposited drift and carried it to lower elevations in the park. 17
 * __EROSION BY GRAVITY:__ Gravity erodes rock when it brings rock downslope. Also known as landslides, gravity brings rocks down when triggered by an oversteepened slope that cannot support the rock any longer, an addition of water, and/or a lack of plants. 17 Gravity shapes the steep cliffs and brings boulders to lower elevations in the park. 4
 * __TECTONIC ACTIVITY:__ As explained in the "Unique geologic features" section, the Waterpocket Fold was created after a fault was reactivated by the building of mountains farther north .4

 CLIMATE AND WEATHER
 * The park's current climate:** During the summer, it is hot during the day (in the 90°F range) and cooler at night (around 50-69 °F) 3,4 . In the spring and fall, the average temperature is more mild--in 50s or 60s F 4 . In the winter, the average temperature is around 50 degrees Fahrenheit with little to no snowfall, especially in the areas of lower elevation 3,4 . These mild to hot temperatures are due to the park's distance from the Equator 17 . It gets a fair amount of solar radiation (see below for length of days and further explanation), causing the ground to warm and creating these higher temperatures 17 . However, it is elevated, at around 5000-6000 feet above sea level 19 . This causes it to be cooler, since it gets colder as the elevation increases 17 . Generally, there is a low humidity 4 . It is very dry, with little rainfall due to this low humidity, with an average of just 7.2 inches of rainfall per year 3,4 . Since it is generally in a center of high pressure, it is harder for air to rise and take moisture with it 17 . An air mass that passes through the area is polar continental. It brings dry, cold air in from Canada. This also accounts for the lack of humidity 17 . Finally, it is located inland, meaning there is not a significantly large body of water nearby from which moisture could evaporate, which would elevate the humidity 17.


 * How the climate has affected the park's development:** In the past, the park was a very, very dry desert. This caused the formation of the Navajo Sandstone found in the park. It was also very wet, which explains the existence of the shale and the Chinle Formation. 4


 * Change in climate**: No significant change has been recorded.

BIOMES
 * The length of the day and solar intensity:** Capitol Reef is located at a latitude of around 38.28°N 1 . This is not located within the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5°N and 23.5°S), meaning that it never receives the direct rays of sunlight 17 . If it did, it would cause it to have very high temperatures and a hot climate. However, it is relatively close to the Equator, meaning it does get pretty direct rays of sunlight throughout the year 17, which accounts for the warm to mild temperatures recorded. The length of the day is the following, which also contributes to the average temperature, as the longer the amount of time the sun is shining, the more it heats an area 17 . The pattern shown in the table below causes the temperatures to be colder during the winter months, as they recieve less sunlight during those months. This data is applicable to a latitude of 40 degrees North latitude 14.
 * [[image:scrub_1.jpg width="211" height="181" align="left" caption="What a Desert-Scrub Biome looks like. (8)"]]

The type of biome the part is in:** Capitol Reef has a desert-scrub biome. Desert-scrub is desert areas that contain plants and animals that need to develop mechanisms that can handle the extreme arid climate and the temperature they might come into contact with 9. With a desert-scrub biome, the amount of evaporation is greater than the amount of precipitation, making there be a drier climate 9. This happens because of the high atmospheric pressure due to the latitude (around 30 degrees N) 9. Examples of the terrain in this biome are flat plains, rocky hills, dry washes and mountain slopes 9.


 * The kinds of animals in Capitol Reef**: There are a variety of fish, amphibians, birds, and mammals in the Capitol Reef park because of the diverse habitats found 4.
 * __Mountain Lions__ - These animals are carnivores and mainly eat deer 4 . In the Orchard of Fruita, there is a large population of deer, which attracts the mountain lions 4 . Mountain Lions are generally found in the orchard but are rarely seen by humans 4.
 * __Chipmunks__ - Are small rodents of the squirrel family 18. They eat mainly nuts, fruits, seeds, berries, grains, bird eggs, small frogs, fungi, insects and worms 18. They can be found in places like scrublands, alpine forests or shrubby deserts 18.


 * How these animals adapt to the climate**: Animals that live in Capitol Reef adapt to the dry climate by not needing lots of water, becoming quick climbers, wandering over larger areas, and varying their diet to include the scrubby bush lands 8.


 * The kinds of plants in Capitol Reef**: Shrubs, small leaved plants that take water from places far from where the shrub is located, are the main type of vegataion 9 . Examples of some shrubs are scrub oaks, chamiso shrubs, pines, cork and olive trees.
 * __Maguire's Daisy__ - Maguire's Daisy is a threatened perennial herb 15. They have stems and leaves that are hairy, and they grow in Navajo Sandstone 4,15. They grow in the bottom of washes, crevices and on ledges 15.
 * __Harrison's Milkvetch__ (Astragalus harrisonii) - Harrison's milkvetch is part of the pea family 20. These plants can be found in canyon bottoms, under cliffs, and on steep slopes of soils from the Navajo snadstone 4,20. They also grow at elevations of 5,600 - 6,500 feet 20.


 * How these plants adapt to the climate**: Due to the long periods of dryness in the summer, only plants with hard leaves are capable of surviving 18 . Leaves that are hairy can use the moisture in the air that is collected 18 . Many of the plants have to be drought resistant because of the lack of water 18.

HUMAN IMPACT


 * If the park, its inhabitants, or features are in danger from human impact**: Plants like Wright's Fishhook Cactus are endangered from human's allowing livestock grazing, mineral resource development, and the usage of off-road vehicles 21 . The Mountain Lion is in danger of human impact because when they see humans they appear as prey and want to attack 4 . Humans need to fight back when they are attacked, potentially killing a mountain lion 4.

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