130,000 Square Miles
The Colorado Plateau was formed as a result of the action of tectonic plates underneath the region beginning approximately 70 million years ago. This high, flat region would eventually encompass over 130,000 square miles. In the present day, this vast expanse of land spreads across the states of Arizona, Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico. Some of you may have even taken a trek across the big plains yourself! However, when the Colorado Plateau climbed in elevation, the drainage patterns in the region changed dramatically.
130,000 Square Miles
The Colorado River’s Formation
Ice and rainwater locked in areas of the Rocky Mountains began to leak out, with the majority of the water flowing westward. The increased volume of liquid, over time, transformed the waterway we know today as the Colorado River into a devastating and strong force that continues to this day.
The Colorado River’s Formation
