Grand Canyon ain't what it used to be

[dArKeR]

By Seth Hettena
The Associated Press

GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz. - It’s hard to get the sense anything is wrong in the Grand Canyon while floating through it.

On a recent spring morning, the Colorado River was cool and calm. Trout leapt, splashing back into the river with a plop. Stands of salt cedar lined the banks, offering shade from the desert heat.

But all is not well in this crown jewel of America’s national park system.

The salt cedar and trout are invaders, part of a wave of alien fish and plants that have moved in and devoured or crowded out the native species. The sandy shorelines are washing away. And once-buried Indian archaeological sites are slipping into the river.

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5166114/


Grand Canyon In Deep Trouble

 It's hard to get the sense anything is wrong in the Grand Canyon while floating through it.

On a recent spring morning, the Colorado River was cool and calm. Trout leapt, splashing back into the river with a plop. Stands of salt cedar lined the banks, offering shade from the desert heat.

But all is not well in this crown jewel of America's national park system.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/06/09/tech/main622004.shtml

I took a rafting trip down Cataract Canyon in 1978.
http://www.utah.com/raft/rivers/cataract.htm

[treepig]

1. on the positive side, you can now purchase a

"new book offering an alternative view of how the Grand Canyon was formed in Grand Canyon National Park Service bookstores."

this is an alternative website, right? then shouldn't we celebrate the flowering of alternative views? well, one of those liberal, ivory tower-types didn't think so - here are "comments from Dr. Wilfred A. Elders, a professor at the University of California-Riverside.

"During my visit to the Grand Canyon in August 2003, I learned that this book, 'Grand Canyon: a Different View,' was being sold in bookstores within the national park," Elders said.

Elders then published a scathing review of the book.

Elders summed up his review by saying, " is not a geological treatise. It is 'Exhibit A' of a new, slick strategy to proselytize by biblical literalists using a beautifully illustrated, multi-authored book about a spectacular and world-famous geological feature. Allowing the sale of this book within the National Park was unfortunate.

tsk tsk tsk, if you wish to hear the rest of this sad story, and what you can do to rectify the situation (i.e., donate to the gop), you can consult the following site:

http://www.gopusa.com/news/2004/january/0108_geologists_book.shtml

:crazy::crazy::crazy::crazy::crazy::crazy::crazy::crazy::crazy::crazy::crazy::crazy::crazy::crazy::crazy::crazy::crazy::crazy::crazy::crazy:

[pauliedangerously]

2. Appalling...

My wife and I went last fall and we were appalled by that book as well. There it is, right in front of you: billions of years of geological history. I call it unbelievable stupidity. I'd like to see how they explain away that meteor crater.

It seems that the collective intelligence of the population is inversely related to the number of cable channels available.

[treepig]

3. thinking positively, it could enhance the visitors' experience

for example, it's a uniquely american twofer for a overseas visitor:


shock at the bizarre right-wing fundamentalist mindset of the country.

and

awe at the spledor of the grand canyon itself.



conveniently packaged to be enjoyed within 5 minutes of each other

[pauliedangerously]

4. Very clever...I LIKE that!

That's all.