To those of us who are blessed with a vivid imagination and a grasp of basic geology, a visual study of the Grand Canyon’s various rock layers can conjure visions of the long-departed deserts, swamps, mountains, lakes, and ancient seas that gave birth to them. For the rest of us, the Grand Canyon Association recently published Ancient Landscapes of the Colorado Plateau.
This richly-illustrated book contains a wealth of information on the depositional environments that existed when the Grand Canyon’s signature cliffs and slopes were laid down over the Millennia. Authors Ron Blakey and Wayne Ranney have spent much of their careers studying and teaching the geology of the region. Their book will make an indispensable addition to the library of every Canyon aficionado and a surprisingly accessible introduction to the majestic Grand Canyon for those whose interest has just begun.
