Sheer Beauty!
A perfect way to describe the nature found in Arizona. In 2006, I took a trip with my family to Arizona to see the Grand Canyon, a magnificent spectacle of nature’s wonderful force. Upon first sight, it is breathtaking, miles of vast openness. But, when you take a closer look, you realize how much is in the void of the canyon—beautiful rock structures, endangered animals, and the Colorado River flowing wildly through the middle of the canyon. It is a spectacular sight to see, especially while the sun sets over the canyon changing the colors and tones of the rocks. It is nature in its purest and most raw form.
However, with the introduction of man, the scenery is disintegrating. Pollution, disrespect toward nature, and laziness all can affect these magnificent creations. In fact, a couple of days before we arrived at the Grand Canyon, a massive wildfire had started in Sedona. The massive plumes of smoke were a phenomenal sight, and made countless news headlines. You could see smoke, if not fire, from everywhere in Sedona. The fire caused expansive devastation to land, animals, and even threatened residents. It was later discovered that the wildfire was caused by a careless campfire left unattended. If we do not take heed of human effects in nature, there will be no nature left to admire.
The endangered species living in the canyon are under constant observance and protection. In particular, the condors of the Grand Canyon are in tremendous danger of extinction. Condors are members of the vulture family and will travel hundreds of miles a day hunting for food. When not searching for food, condors spend most of their time perched at a roost. The condors were brought to Arizona from California in hopes of preventing their extinction. The crevices and rock faces of the canyon provide excellent spots for condors to make a roost. Instead of building nests, condors will lay an egg around five inches long on the ground. The egg will hatch in about 50 days, and in five to six months the newborn condor will leave the nest. It is important that we let the condors repopulate, after all they are an endangered species. If we persist with our disrespect toward the environment, we will continue to alter the habitat that condors need to recover. It is vital that we keep aware of the condor so that we do not lose this beautiful creature to extinction.
I am aspiring to become a mechanical engineer. So, with an understanding of design and construction, I’ve realized that man cannot create anything more beautiful than nature can. There is a building located on the rim of the canyon called The Lookout Studio. It was built in 1914, and now provides a superb view of the Bright Angel Trail far below. Mary Colter, the architect who designed the building, took her inspiration from the formations and designs of the canyon, seamlessly blending the natural and manmade structures together. This building is ultimate proof that man can design structures that complement and make use of nature.
The natural surroundings and sheer awe-inspiring scenery of Arizona is truly a site everyone should experience; you really get a feel for how humbling nature can be. It was a trip I will never forget. Who knew that a hole in the ground could be so mind-blowing?
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