Arches National Park (Moab, Utah)

1. Arches National Park(Moab, Utah) By Andrew Farrell, James Sullivan, and Stephen Fung

2. Geology (How the Arches Formed) • Type of rock • Sandstone: made of grains of sand cemented together by minerals. The Entrada Sandstone was once a massive desert, full of shifting dunes of fine-grained sand. When packed together, they formed a rock that is very porous (full of tiny spaces). • In contrast, the Carmel layer just beneath the Entrada contains a mix of sand and clay. Clay particles are much smaller than sand grains; making the rock denser and less porous than a purer sandstone.

3. Geology (Erosion) • On average, the park receives 8-10 inches (18-23cm) ofprecipitation a year. • Drops of rainwater soak into the porous Entrada sandstone easily and then slowly dissolve the calcite bonding the sand together – in other words, rotting the rock from the inside out. • Water puddles just above the denser Carmel layer where it erodes a cavity. In winter, water trapped between the two layers expands when it freezes and pries the rock apart.

4. Geology (Formation of the Arches) • Deep beneath the surface lies a thick layer of salts. Squeezed by the tons of rock above it, the salt flowed and bulged upward, creating long domes. • The rock layers covering these domes were forced to crack, into a series of more-or-less parallel lines.

5. Ecological History (Climate)

6. Ecological History (Biome/Dominant wildlife) • Main biome in the arches is Desserts. • About one-third of the area's mammals are rodents, which include squirrels, packrats, chipmunks and porcupines. • Largest predators are the coyotes, bobcats and mountain lions.

7. Endemic Species • Desert Bighorn Sheep- no longer endangered • Mule Deer • Western Collard Lizard • Kangaroo Rats • Datura (plant) • Cacti

8. Human History • Hunter and Gatherers first entered the area 10,000 years ago after the Ice Age • About 2,000 years ago was when people first started cultivating the land • Around 700 years ago the people started leaving the area • Europeans first visited the lands in the 1840’s

9. Protection of the Park • National Parks Service is the government organization protecting the Park • It is beautiful and one of the most unique places on earth • The biggest collections of Arches on Earth

10. Threats and cures • Biggest Threat: Humans • Extreme sports • Traffic congestion • Lack of Budget • Non-native species • Russian Knapweed • English sparrows Largest Rope Swing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4B36Lr0Unp4

11. Bibliography • National Parks Service. U.S. Department of The Interior, 16 Feb. 2014. Web. 18 Feb. 2014. •  "Arches National Park." National Geographic. National Geographic, 2012. Web. 18 Feb. 2014 • Google Images • Gantenbein, Douglas. "Our National Parks Are in Danger." Travel + Leisure. Time Inc., Aug. 2004. Web. 18 Feb. 2014.

12. Webquest • Denis Julien was a - explorer that was the first recorded European to visit the area. • Which President made this area an official national park? • What species once had its population reduced to 1,000? • The Arches are composed of what type of rock? • What is the biggest threat to Arches?

13. Webquest • How much precipitation does Arches National Park average each year? • True or False: It has snowed in Arches National Park • About of all mammals in Arches National Park are rodents. • True or False: Arches National Park is the only place on earth with natural arches • Tourists in Arches National Park increase the rate of in the park.