Creation From Destruction

Learn 

The Virgin River is the primary agent of erosion that continues to carve and shape Zion. The North Fork of the Virgin River begins north of Zion at Cascade Falls, where it drains out of Navajo Lake at 9,000 feet above sea level. It empties into Lake Mead at about 1000 feet above sea level, where it joins the Colorado River.  

Though the Virgin River is relatively small, it is incredibly steep. The river drops roughly 7,800 feet in the 160 miles it travels. In the park, the river drops an average of 71 feet every mile. In comparison, the Mississippi River drops about one inch every mile. This steepness, caused by the uplift of the Colorado Plateau, has given the Virgin River the ability to cut through sandstone and carve canyons. 

Look

When you look at the river is the water clear? Or is the water brown and murky? Rainstorms and snowmelt produce murky waters in the river as evidence of the sediment carried away. Once rain and snowmelt has stopped, the river can return to its calm and clear state in 24-48 hours.  

Connect

Flash flooding is a natural hazard of the desert southwest but not in other parts of the world. What natural hazard is common in your area? How do you learn about and prepare for it? Your safety is your responsibility at Zion National Park. Learning about the environmental hazards of a new area are important for having a fun and safe visit.