Norwich bulletin., 1916-11-07
DELIVERS LECTURE ON
 THE GRAND CANYON,
Harvard Professor Tells of Geological Wonders of Colorado Plateau Re- zion.

The lecture given at Slater hall on Monday evening was on the Grand Canyon of the Colorado and was deliv- cred by Wallace W. Atwood, professor of physiology at Harvard It was mos; interesting from both geological and scenic point of view and was most beautifully illustrated. MT. Atwood emphasized the fact that the canyon itself is just a detail in the Colorado plateau region way off in the south west country, 5000 feet above sea level. Inside it there are marine plateaus. once covered by the sea, composed of layers of limestone and shaie. When this region was raised above sea level new story began. Internal forces, storms and earthquakes raised it up and rivers wore it down, and lava was toured out. Its present condition is a barren desert. The boulders are be- ing worn smaller and smaller by wind and atmospheric changes. The air is so dry that much of the rainfall does not reach the ground. Through this region are found the ruins of Indian Villages and the deserted cliff dwell ings. At one of these mesas, still in habited, the party of which MT. Baker was a member arranged some of the old savage races. The men and boys taking part in them completed the circle around the base of the mesa, a Ol 1U lilies, III less than OU minutes, kicking in front of them small wooden sticks. The boys of these tribes often capture wild horses by running them down.
 Twenty to 40 feet below the surface are found petrified logs left there from the time when the now barren coun- try was green and covered with for est. Next comes ledge, which was utilized by the Indians as dwellings until another period caused the drying of the land and made it uninhabitab ble There are found extinct volcanoes, still retaining an appearance of activ- lty. Whole plateaus of lava and lava combs are seen. Red mountain is of such formation, the color being due to masses of red sand and earth and blocks formed by the coating of lava constantly being cast out. The tops of these plateaus are great plains larger than any that we have in the east. Once this was the sea level Grand Canyon, is 6,100 feet deep It was at that time 10000 feet higher As we approach it lies in front and be- meath us. The view changes every minue with the varying lights. All about are tremendous cracks and fis- sures caused by various processes in nature. The water gets in and freezes, small roots creeping and expanding, and the wind constantly blowing, all tend TO split and break these great
 
 and soft stone form the least resistance to gradual disintegration. The walls, in horizontal layerss are of the most varied hues and colors, blues and greens and copper-yellows, through the shades of red and brown. These ef- fects are but skin deep, however, as slight f1icking off discloses under heath the native limestone. To oxi- dization and copper are due the sur face colors.
 The River Colorado flows at the bottom of a gorge 1000 feet deep, as deep as the Yellowstone canyon. This inner gorge is of the oldest geograph- ical formation. To reach it we de- scend the trail for about a mile down through solid rock, past peaks of mountains that are but details in the side of the gorge, and by other tribu- tary gorges. The river when reached is of dirty coffee color, but when a glass of it is allowed to stand it clears leaving a slight sediment of sand at the bottom. It thus reveals its whole work and object-to carry the land to the ocean. That is what everything in nature Is doing; the wind the waves the rivers, the weather. There are in this canyon three distinct formations and stratas-the foundation the in cline. the horizontal; separated by millions of years. This is, however, a youthful gorge.