The Grand Canyon free essay sample

The Grand Canyon National Park contains one of the most well known natural wonders of our country: The Grand Canyon. It is located in Arizona. Over the years, the Grand Canyon has attracted many visitors, and today the park sees nearly five million visitors yearly (NPS, History Culture). It has always been a target for human interest, going back to the days where Native Americans ruled the land and continuing through present times. However, like the rest of our natural world, the Grand Canyon faces many threats, mainly due to humans. What are these things that threaten the Grand Canyon, what is being done to combat them, and what else can be done to protect the Grand Canyon National Park? Within the Grand Canyon lays the Colorado River, which scientists believe carved it out 17 million years ago, much earlier than the previous estimate of 6 million years (Wilford). The river consumes the area over time, eventually forming the magnificent canyon that we see today. We will write a custom essay sample on The Grand Canyon or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The canyon runs east-west so it has a North Rim and a South Rim. The Grand Canyon is 277 miles long, 18 miles wide and 5,000 feet deep (Grand Canyon Facts). It contains several ecosystems and hundreds of unique species of animals and over a thousand species of plants (Grand Canyon Facts). The Grand Canyon contains very old objects that date from up to 12,000 years ago (NPS, History Culture), back to early Native American culture. Therefore, it has been known to, used by, and been occupied by humans for a very long time. According to the U. S. National Park Service, â€Å"the park has recorded over 4,800 archeological resources with an intensive survey of nearly Le 2 3% of the park area† (NPS, History Culture). The Grand Canyon was first given federal protection in 1893, but it wasn’t for nearly another 30 years that it would become a National Park. This happened in 1913, three years after the National Park Service was created (NPS, History Culture). The Grand Canyon is thus one of the oldest national parks in the country. Before it became a national park and a magnet for tourism, the Grand Canyon attracted explorers, pioneers, and corporations looking to harness resources from it. Being a national, the Grand Canyon has always been a target of conservation. The first such effort was started by Franklin D. Roosevelt, who in 1933 put people to work who were jobless due to the Great Depression (NPS, CCC). He created the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and filled it using poor and unemployed men. It lasted for nine years, and during its time they traveled around the country completing conservation projects at national parks and other sites. They engaged in projects such as â€Å"tree planting, trail construction, erosion control, forest fire fighting, state park development, and fire road construction† (NPS, CCC). According to the National Park Service, four federal agencies were used to make sure that the CCC was successful. The Department of Labor selected the workers, The Department of War transported, supervised, and managed their care, and the Departments of Agriculture and Interior designed the projects and supervised the Corps. What types of threats does the Grand Canyon face today? Well, there are many in fact. Due to pollution, building, and other human activities, nature is Le 3 often thrown out of balance, and without further human intervention to reverse these problems, natural habitats are threatened. According to a report by the National Parks Conservation Association, one challenge is â€Å"Colorado River management actions that do not incorporate adaptive strategies for protecting and restoring fish, river flows, riverine habitats, cultural sites, and archaeological resources along the river corridor† NPCA, 3). Other problems include sounds cape management, such as over flights that can disturb visitors, wildlife, and the 11 Native American tribes which live in the park (NPCA, 3). Greater and better relationships with these tribes are also wanted. Mining activities from the past and present, along with air pollution from nearby areas also pose threats to the health of the park. Due to environmental change, the canyon even faces threats from non-native animals intruding. According to Anne Minard of the High Country News, drought has recently brought bison into the park. They were originally taken into Arizona for an experiment to breed them with cattle, although that failed (Minard). â€Å"Biologists with the National Park Service say the huge animals (males can weigh up to 2,500 pounds) are wallowing in riparian areas and damaging cultural sites. They considered building a fence, but that would affect other wildlife, such as mule deer† (Minard). The NPCA also states that there are â€Å"front country and backcountry management and protection needs, particularly in regard to the challenges of park size, visitation patterns, and shortfalls in funding, which compromise efforts to preserve and protect the park’s resources. † Finally, the Grand Canyon faces the threat of climate change, like much of the Le 4 rest of the world. The Grand Canyon faces threats to its land, water, resources, wildlife, and even people. What are some things being done to address these problems and what more can be done to do so? The NPCA addresses each problem and makes recommendations. The river must go back to a more natural state, with a reduction in rafting and non-native oceangoing animals. The NPCA also recommends restorative flows to the river. For noise pollution, the park should prohibit flights and certain areas and put a cap on air tours. Mining is one thing that is already been addressed. The report states that â€Å"The Secretary of the Interior has temporarily barred the filing of new mining claims — including those for uranium — on the nearly one million acres of public land surrounding the Grand Canyon. † The NPCA recommends that Congress pass an act to permanently ban mining on these public lands. Since the park has no authority over air pollution from other areas, it must rely on government regulation to cut down on pollution. The park should press the government to continue regulating pollution. In 1991, environmental groups and a nearby Navajo electrical plant agreed to â€Å"drastically cut sulfur-dioxide emissions,† (Air Pollution) but there is still more to be done. As for non-native animals, greater effort must be undertaken to make sure that they are removed and that more are not brought in. When it comes to park management, the park needs more resources and funding to ensure that visitors have a great and safe experience and that all buildings and structures in the park are in good Le 5 condition. For building ties with the Native American tribes, the park should make them more involved and known to visitors, through areas like history, art, and â€Å"cultural significance† (NPCA, 4). When it comes to climate change, this is another thing that is beyond the park’s control, as it is a global event. The whole world must take action against climate change in order for both the Grand Canyon National Park and the Earth itself to be protected. â€Å"Grand Canyon Park Supervisor Steve Martin said he generally agrees with the report’s findings† (O’Keefe). The Grand Canyon Chapter of the Sierra Club, an environmental organization, has been working with the park for years on protecting its environment. The chapter aims to fight against climate change and preserve wildlife. Some of their objectives include stopping mining in the park and the surrounding region, limit off-road vehicle activity in the area, convince Congress to pass the Grand Canyon Watersheds Protection Act, and â€Å"promote resilient habitats† (Sierra Club). In conclusion, there are many things that threaten this grand park, and there are many challenges ahead for preserving the Grand Canyon.

Top Tools To Get Started In Freelance Writing

Top Tools To Get Started In Freelance Writing Top Tools To Get Started In Freelance Writing Top Tools To Get Started In Freelance Writing By Colin Any freelance writer starting out these days could be forgiven for thinking all that’s required is a laptop with Internet access, and a telephone. But there’s more to think of; hidden extras which will be needed somewhere along the line if a serious attempt is to be made. Here’s a list of the most important things every freelance writer should consider when first starting out. Word Processor This is perhaps so obvious, that some might say it ranks as extreme stupidity to even mention it. However, you will definitely, without question, need a word processor of some description. Fiction writers can get away with a dedicated word processor to work on, but if you are serious about making your way in the freelance writing business, you really need a PC or laptop that can connect to the Internet. So much business is done over the Internet these days, that not only is it the future, the future’s been here for a while. Internet Access You’ll need Internet access for several reasons: Research: the first port of call for many freelancers when undertaking research is the Internet but it shouldn’t be the only one. A good freelancer will use the Internet as a foundation to build on, before talking to people, visiting libraries, and cross-checking with sources. Email: call it a curse, call it the greatest innovation in communication since two cups and a piece of string, email is here to stay. You’ll need it for applying for jobs, sending queries, receiving queries, sending in submissions in fact, just about everything. Staying current: being able to read newspapers, magazines, journals, industry reports, articles, forums, or just to see what your peers are doing, can all be done over the Internet. Advertise: whether through blogs, websites, or portals, your services can be advertised effectively over the Internet, but only if you can access it and respond quickly. Restock: being able to order supplies for your home business over the Internet can save you time, money, and a lot of hassle. Website Should you have one? Why do you need one? Will it do any good? To answer all of these questions think about it this way: if you don’t have one, will you be able to compete successfully with everyone else who does? A website is relatively inexpensive to set up and maintain, and although they may seem a distraction when first setting out, having a website speaks volumes for the level of seriousness a writer has of himself. It is also a great tool for supporting your pitches, and allowing your clients, potential or otherwise, to get to know you. Printer Despite what I said earlier concerning email and the future of electronic communication, there will always be a place in the world for paper. Some writers use their printer for printing work to proofread, but the main use as a freelance writer is for business correspondence, and invoices. If you have a modern PC or laptop, but have a small working environment, it might be a good investment to go for a wireless printer so you can hide it away, and then access it only when you need to. Dedicated Area Having a regular place to work has been known to increase productivity and allow for better creativity. It needn’t be a dedicated office with desk and chair, or kitted out with all the latest mod-cons, it could be the corner of a living room, at the end of the bed, or on the kitchen table. Wherever you choose, it should be comfortable and conducive to producing quality work. As you move forward with your career, you will likely find that an office becomes more desirable. Finding a suitable area with more professional amenities will become more important as you grow. Telephone and Fax Most freelance writers have a telephone. It’s kind of assumed. Some use their home phone, some have a dedicated line installed into a home office, others use their mobile, and a few have branched out with Internet technology such as Skype. Fax, however, is often neglected as being old fashioned and therefore not required. Not so. It’s a good idea to have a fax connection because many businesses still rely heavily on it to do business. The beauty is that you don’t need a bulky machine sitting near you to receive faxes any longer, as a simple piece of software and an Internet connection is all you need. CD/DVD Writer Invaluable for backing up everything concerned with the running of your home-based freelance writing business. This can include everything from PC data and applications, to article ideas and company accounts. You might even use it for listening to a CD when you need to relax. PC Maintenance Software Keeping your PC hardware, software, and peripherals in fighting shape is vital to prevent your PC falling foul to outside interference, and to make sure it is working as quickly and reliably as it possibly can. By using anti-virus tools, malware and adware removal products, disk cleaners and defragmenters, and a good firewall product, you can keep your PC running smoothly and safely so you can worry less about it, and more about your next deadline. Accounts Software At some point along the line you’re going to need a method of tracking your expenses, income, and dreaded tax return. In the beginning, a spreadsheet might suffice, but eventually you’re going to have to think bigger and get yourself a dedicated accounts package. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy or complicated, just enough to be able to record what’s going in, out, and when. Business Material Finally, to be taken seriously, and to help you start â€Å"thinking† like a writer, some of the following might also be useful: Letterhead Invoice template Business card Rate card Contract Clippings Notice: Due to popular request we have finally released our Freelance Writing Course. Come check it out if you want to get started freelance writing online. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Freelance Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:How to Punctuate Descriptions of ColorsTypes of Ignorance