YOUNG PLATEAUS 



269 



gigantic exhibition of the results of erosion. Wonderful, 

 grand, ' sublime, are mere sounds which lose themselves in 

 the ears of one who looks out upon this overpowering dis- 

 play of Nature's handiwork. 



The region is very dry, and the river receives few and 

 short branches for many miles of its course. The valley 



COLORADO PLATEAU 

 The Colorado River has cut a deep canon through this high plateau. 



is widening much more slowly than it would if this were 

 a land of considerable rainfall, and as yet the river fills 

 the entire bottom of the gorge. The valley is in the early 

 stages of its development and the erosive forces have just 

 begun the vast work of wearing down the region. The side 

 streams are small and the interstream spaces broad. 



