Los Angeles Live, better known as L.A. Live, is a giant entertainment complex located near the Staples Center, in downtown of the city. The venue is quite popular among L.A. citizens and tourists coming to the Californian center (L.A. LIVE Properties n. p.). The complex counts numerous restaurants, theatres, concert halls, apartments, and movie theatres.
It also possesses a large hotel and joint tower. The recreation centre can be used for various purposes, such as holding various shows and performances, celebrating notable events, and organizing meetings and concerts. There is also a possibility for all people to have a great time by attending restaurants, doing shopping, and enjoying various shows and events (L.A. LIVE Properties n. p.).
L. A. Live is not just a set of venues, shops, and restaurants because it allows people to escape from reality and routine and dedicate their time to enjoying life (L.A. LIVE Properties n. p.). More importantly, attending L. A. Live is a great opportunity to engage with the world of celebrities and the atmosphere of entertainment. Understanding the concept and mission of the complex, the service can also be organized in other regions in California and all over the United States because it brings new energy and atmosphere.
The main mission of the complex is to entertain people and make their lives more exciting, interesting, and less disturbing. While entering this venue, people can have a chance to meet with theatrical world of celebrities, as well as discover new opportunities for amusement and enjoinment. Thus, the center can provide its guests and visitors with unforgettable experience by proposing exceptional services and a number of venues to visit.
Therefore, L.A. Live allows people to bring their own business and lives into a new dimension, a destination which transforms daily routine into another reality. In other words, the complex brings the city to another level and opens new opportunities for people (JM L.A. LIVE n. p.). Attending various sports events, excellent performances, and music awards events provides people with understanding a new conception of leading a life.
The scale and possibilities of the complex have no analogues in the world and, therefore, the guests of L. A. Live have a unique opportunity to become part of important events at international scale. Propagating a new vision and understanding life in large-scale terms can provide LA citizens with a new conception of how leisure time can be enriched.
Moreover, the complex can ensure its guests to receive any type of services. By attending either hotels or dining facilities, the visitors can find the venues that meet their utmost requirements – from casual style of spending time to the most sophisticated one.
It is a well-known fact that Americans spend the most of their recreation budget on film industry because they are regular cinema goers. Therefore, they will definitely be interested in learning more about celebrities and producers who contributed to the film production (Winter and Vertikoff 17).
L. A. LIVE gives a marvelous chance to become closer to the cinema art for ordinary people. The largest recreation centre offers stylish and exclusive event space that can be adjusted to the needs of clients. The event space features a luxury service that can only be provided by L.A. LIVE staff. It offers access to various attractions, including Nokia Theatre, Staples Center, and L.A. Convention Center (JM L.A. LIVE n. p.).
Because the attraction complex is a step-forward toward the future of recreation centers, similar facilities and conceptions can be established in other cities and districts to make U.S. people feel themselves part of something important and global. Such a conception meets the globalization trend according to which people should think globally and contribute to the local development of their cities.
The rapid development of entertainment business in California and other regions of the Untied Unites explains the great dependency of the Americans on the recreation sphere (Winter and Vertikoff 45). Therefore, the architecture, location, and facilities identify the functions and purposes of Los Angeles.
Although L. A. LIVE is another project supporting the city image, it still differs much from the conception because it is considered more than just center for having rest and amusement. It has become a much more important part of daily life which has a potent impact on the actual lifestyles of individuals living in accordance with the established rhythm. Therefore, entertainment business has become a part of purposes, missions, and philosophies of the Californian district.
In conclusion, L.A. LIVE’s outlook on the conception of recreation and entertainment allows for changes of LA citizens’ views on amusement and leisure time. Becoming part of large-scale project provides guests of the center with a unique opportunity to participate in an exclusive event.
The center is also able to find alternative paths to meet the requirements of the most exigent clients and establish new patterns and standards of holding meeting, conferences, concerts and performances. Therefore, such a conception should also bring new energy to other regions in the United States.
Works Cited
JM L.A. LIVE. L.A. LIVE. n. d. Web.
L.A. LIVE Properties, Overview, L.A. LIVE. n. d. Web.
Winter, Robert and Alexander Vertikoff. The Architecture of Entertainment: L.A. in the Twenties. US: Gibbs Smith, 2006, Print.
During the first three months of life, an infant’s brain exhibits rapid development. The baby has a biological need to learn and absorb information from the outside world; it has a cognitive and a sensory need that requires nurturing at this stage of life ensuring that the rest of the stages in the baby’s life fall in their rightful places. Giving the baby stimulating experiences will help it to develop its brain and lay the foundation for more advanced learning later on as far as the baby’s sensory, biological and cognitive abilities are concerned.
The toy mobile is meant for a three-month old baby boy. The mobile toy is to be hanged in the crib as the child cannot yet sit upright by itself. It is small in size to enable the child to easily reach all its corners. Different toys have different shapes and colors.
The toy mobile is bright-colored with soft keys that have different textures due to the fabrics used-muslin with a square shape. Additionally, the toy mobile has high-contrast patterns. Infants have a tendency of putting all objects within their reach in their mouths. The ideal size of the toys will be significantly big to ensure that the child does not get into his/her mouth.
The toys are all dangling back and forth in a steady speed. In addition to the dangling aspect, the toy mobile has fixtures that enable it to make soft and audible noises. The sounds are musical, some of which having a high tempo while others are rather slow and soothing. For some of the toys, the sounds are triggered by pressing certain buttons/keys while for the rest of the toys sounds are produced by pushing some attachments on the toy.
On pressing the toy mobile’s key, lights of different shades are produced. The mobile toy has the ability to make accidental squeaks once pressed. The child can bat, pull, spin and rattle the toys with ease. The toy mobile is sweet-scented with a yummy taste and has an unbreakable mirror. It also has an activity mat of soft texture. Additionally, it has many convenient features including removable music box, adjustable swivel arm, and push button power.
In the manufacture of the toy mobile, a lot has been taken into consideration as far as cognitive, sensory and biological abilities are concerned because every now and then, infants who are less than eight months old are always thinking, learning and exploring the world around them. They are always discovering new things in their environment. Their age is the age of wonder where the baby is focusing on moving things.
The baby can only see clearly within a distance of around fifteen inches. The baby is in a position to see all colors in the human spectrum and is able to respond to the environment with facial expressions and imitate them. The ability to tell sweet from sour is already built up and the baby can react to familiar sounds. The baby uses their mouths and hands to explore which too has been factored in designing the toy mobile.
The design of the toy mobile provides features that match the sensory, cognitive and biological abilities of an infant. It has multiple attachments each catering for different abilities concerning the above mentioned.
The toy mobile is hanged on a baby crib which provides the infant with a point to focus on during the time they spend in the crib. For the stimulation of the infant’s sense of sight, the different shapes as well as the different shades of the toy serve the purpose because the child can see at this age and make out different moves up, down and even when someone passes by him/her.
The toy mobile is around fifteen inches away from the child because the child can see that far. At the age of three months, the baby’s visual ability is limited since they can only see objects within a fifteen inches diameter as afore mentioned, which is why, the mobile toy is hung at such a level that the baby will not see blurred images and items. The soft keys or rather key pads help in the development of the infant’s sense of touch. Owing to this fact different fabrics are chosen to provide the soft and smooth texture of the toy.
At this age, the baby has opened his fist and almost every now and then, it plays with the feet using the opened fist in a grabbing manner. Hard fabrics will scare the child away from holding things because the child’s hand has just opened up to grasp things and thus it’s very soft and tender thus the muslin square material serves the purpose. This stimulates touch and increases the child’s alertness and attention span.
The toy mobile has dangling toys that dangle in such a manner that the child is made to lift its head and chest as if doing some push-ups. This contributes to the active behavior of the child and enhances its back’s strength. Additionally, the dangling makes strengthen the child’s neck. While dangling, the toys rattle making some noise that the child responds to by laughing or cooing.
Moreover, the toys are made of small sizes to ensure that the baby can hold them, an aspect that enhances the development of the muscles within the infant’s hand. The smaller the size of the toys, the easier and faster the child’s hand will develop as far as holding is concerned.
The child at this age is changing toys from one hand to another. The mobile toy has multiple features that are close for the baby to grab with ease and comfort. This action enhances the child’s cognitive ability to pass objects from one hand to the. Furthermore, being able to reach for the toys will enhance coordination skills in the child that add up to cognitive abilities.
The child at this age is making some funny noises and thus for verbal stimulation, the toy is able to make some sensible noise which aids in the child’s development. The accidental squeaks will help the child become more aware of what the hand is doing. Additionally, the ability of the toy to play different tunes of music enables the child to become more vocal.
The music needs to be played from time to time with different tunes for the baby to useful acquire and learn different tunes. The mobile’s position should be changed from time to time to allow the baby to get a new view and sharpen its memory when trying to locate moving. This is made possible by the fact that it has an adjustable swiveled arm. The toy mobile has some soothers that help the child a lot as far as sleep is concerned. It can also be used to regulate the infant’s behavior.
For instance, when the soother plays some gentle music on a repeatedly slow tune, the child goes to sleep. This makes it possible for the sleep patterns to be monitored. When it is time for the baby to sleep, using the toy mobile can ease the caretaker’s task. In enhancing the child’s ability to focus, the baby sitter can point at the different lights produced by the toy. This in return enhances the child’s visual ability as well as the child’s memory.
Switching through the music and finding one that soothes, helps the child learn and adapt to the music for sleep. With this, the child can easily adapt to the outside environment. The squeaking sounds sharpen the child’s hearing ability and the child will follow sounds made from different directions in the toy mobile.
Colors and high-contrast patterns are a great way to stimulate the baby’s visual sense. Bright colors are easily visible and that is why the toy mobile is made of bright colors that enhance sight ability. Additionally, the sweet scent in the crib boosts the smell sensory skill. The yummy taste boosts the child’s ability to the sense of taste.
Additionally, the size of the toys plays a very critical role when it comes to taste because the child will grab a toy and take it straight to its mouth and if very small, it will be swallowed harming the baby. Babies prefer viewing human faces and this makes him laugh with them.
The mirror gives the child the impression that there is someone teasing him/her for at this age the child cannot know that he is the same in the mirror. This boosts visibility and the memory in return. The activity mat laid on the crib for the baby to sit on helps the baby during the tummy time where the baby lifts and tries to lift its legs. This boosts its fine motor skills. The texture of the mat is very useful in preventing bruising of the baby while doing the semi push-ups while lying on its tummy.
In essence, the toy mobile manufactured helps the child a great deal during its growth. The skills to taste, see, hear, smell and touch have been taken care of by the music, the bright colors and contrast pattern, the scented crib, the soft toys among other characteristics of the toy mobile. This makes it easier for the child to move to the next level with enthusiasm and great fitness. The toy enhances the development of the child in all ways possible.
In conclusion, the toy mobile manufactured is a blessing to the mother and the child as well. The benefits it accrues them both are immeasurable. It stimulates the infants’ sensory, biological and cognitive abilities as discussed above. The nervous system, as a major concern, is developed by the fact that the toy mobile allows the child to move from one state to another with ease.
Giving the baby stimulating experiences will help it to develop its brain and lay the foundation for more advanced learning later on as far as the baby’s sensory, biological and cognitive abilities are concerned. Once one stage of life is well and healthy, the next one becomes easier to undertake. Thus, the three month old baby grows healthy courtesy of the toy mobile.
Have you ever thought of dolphins as social creatures possessing their own culture and behavioral patterns that could not be explained by employing simple laws of nature? It is a universally accepted notion that animals kill to survive or feed themselves.
They express their aggression only to defend themselves. Finally, animals live in pods to enhance their protection mechanisms. All these facts are true, but they cannot be applied to dolphins, marine mammals, which are regarded as the most intelligent animals on the planet after humans, of course.
However, the scientists have problems with defining how intelligent dolphins are due to the differences in sensory apparatus, cognition techniques, and response models. Learning more about dolphins makes it much harder to distinguish between animals and humans. Can dolphins employ similar laws as humans? Because their intellectual level and cognition mechanisms have not been researched sufficiently, there is much to think about.
Typically, the marine mammals live in groups counting up to 40 dolphins. At a glance, there is nothing special about this fact because many other species are living and hunting in pods because of similar feeding habits.
However, the difference does exist because these pods are organized in accordance with specific social patterns of behavior. Hence, if a new dolphin enters a pod, the group organizes the greeting ceremonies. If one member of a group is not welcomed among other group members, this dolphin is under is threatened to live in exile.
In fact, strong sense of personality allows dolphins to establish communication and engage in social interaction. With regard to the peculiarities of socialization and living in groups, many scientists in various fields tend to believe that dolphins living in pods can establish long lasting relations. When two groups meet, they can also be engaged in greeting rituals, which differs from the traditional animal world where groups would fight for the territory to survive.
A close study of the behavioral habits of dolphins has also revealed that the species can contact each other through petting, rubbing, or even hitting to express their sympathy with each other. The animals used to swimming close to each other, which indicates their friendship.
Resting fins on dolphin’s back is also a kind of handshake, as accepted in a human world. Therefore, it is also possible to talk about the culture of behavior in a dolphin’s setting. There is also the reverse side of the medal because dolphins can also express aggression and violence against each other. Such type of behavior is often indicated by dolphins’ approach to another dolphin from direct line. In case a dolphin is not aggressive, it can usually approach its opponent from an oblique angle.
Some might reject the fact that dolphins can engage in social interaction because of lack of communication among the group members. In fact, dolphins actively communicate with each other through their specific language – whistles. Many scholars insist that each dolphin possesses a unique set of whistles that indicates their personality so that the members of the group can recognize a dolphin among others.
Dolphins often employ a whistle system in stressful situations, or in case they need help. As soon as the signal is heard by other pod members, the species respond immediately. The advanced intelligence of dolphins, as well as their developed abilities to communicate, refers to their need to communicate. This is why dolphins are often compared to humans. What is more important is that interaction of dolphins with humans is also of great interest to the researchers.
In fact, dolphins are considered extremely curious about everything and, therefore, they can be engaged in exploring contact with humans. The degree of intelligence of dolphins explains their attachment to people, as well as their vivid interaction with them like researchers or trainers. Once gain, cooperation between dolphins and humans supports the idea of social behavior that serves as the foundation of successful communication.
There are many other animals that are capable of socializing and communicating, such as chimpanzee or elephants. Indeed, psychologists also study these animals because their behavior is close to humans. For instance, chimpanzees are able to use tools in order to achieve their purposes.
Like humans, they have social structure and hierarchy. They live in social groups where everybody subordinates to a dominant male. Elephants also apply to human-like means of communication. In particular, it is a well-known fact that these animals communicate by means of touch.
Just as one human individual’s intelligence is difficult to compare with that of another human, intelligence levels of dolphins vary as well. Intelligence constitutes only one aspect of animal survival in a wild natural world. Therefore, dolphins have evolved as smart as it was necessary for their safe existence.
Nevertheless, if the human’s intelligence is compared to non-human standards, it can turn out that dolphins are very close to humans. This is not only about the close proximity of physical similarities, but also about thinking mechanisms. Therefore, the psychoanalysis of dolphins and related species has become the central focus of the research. The ability to train, play, entertain, and understand what different actions and emotions mean has interested the scholars all over the world.
While travelling, hunting, or exploring environment, the species employ ultrasounds. They also use electromagnetic fields to communicate when they set out long journeys. Therefore, dolphins are able to plan and interact. However, their interaction differs significantly from those accepted in animal world.
Rather, their communication and behavioral response to the surrounding world are more similar to humans. Such a viewpoint characterizes dolphins from a special angle. So, in case this species is so intelligent, is it possible to talk about spirituality and morale? Humans should not forget that they are also part of the natural world and, therefore, they should express their respect and equal attitude to it.
Animals, particularly dolphins with their level of intelligence cannot be regarded as living creatures, but as non-human personalities with unique needs, problems, and characters. Their brain is not sufficiently examined to make sound conclusions so far because these marine mammals have much to be discussed and studied in future. Thinking beyond established stereotypes can prevent the scientific world from incredible discoveries.
Beyond science, there are a great number of tales and legends revealing the evidence of dolphins’ intelligence, as well as their good intentions toward humans. In some harbors, humans come regularly at the seacoast to observe many dolphins can explain humans by means of their special language that they need help.
Mysterious stories about these living creatures are fascinating because they widen people’s understanding about why dolphins are under close attention of scientists. Both science and fiction stipulate close resemblance between humans and dolphin in terms of their social behavior and intelligence level. More importantly, both humans and dolphins apply to almost similar models of communication and relations.
Ormel and Kobayashi state that considerable time and mass are required to form a gigantic planet (1). In 1990, scientists discovered a planetary system around a millisecond pulsar. Later on, the scientists were able to measure the movement of the 51 Peg star (i.e. 5th magnitude star) located in the constellation of Pegasus.
This discovery marked the first evidence of the existence of exoplanets (planets surrounding other stars). Since then, astrologists have discovered the existence of numerous exoplanets (Havel et al., 1). For instance, Sahlmann and others employed the radial-velocity method to detect the existence of extrasolar planets (1).
Discovering other Planets
Many astrologists find it extremely hard to capture straight images of exoplanets. This is because they must observe the light reflected by the far-flung parent star. The imaging is compounded further by the fact that the light projected by an exoplanet is million of times weaker than the parent star itself. Thus, exoplanet imaging is comparable to an attempt to spot a moth moving around a lighthouse from several miles away.
Astrologists have (in the past few years) spotted a number of exoplanets as direct sources of the reflected light. In reality, these are far-flung gigantic planets which are orbiting their own solar systems. Thus, the direct imaging of exoplanets remains an extremely complex task which may take a long time to accomplish (Perryman 1).
On the other hand, astrologists have been able to ascertain the existence of exoplanets by detecting their properties using astronomical telescopes mounted in the space and ground (Sahlmann et al., 1). One of the most effective strategies used to spot an exoplanet is detecting the manner in which the gravitational force of the planet acts on the parent star.
Scientists can measure the gravitational force of an exoplanet because both the parent star and the planet orbit their respective centre of mass. Since the parent star has substantial mass, it experiences a smaller tremble compared to the exoplanet. However, both the star and the planet have an identical orbital period. Thus, astronauts are able to detect the presence of an exoplanet (i.e. The star’s Doppler shift) by examining the wavelength of shadowlike lines produced by the star over an extended period of time.
The technique explained above must be repeated several times in order to detect an exoplanet. This technique has enabled astronauts to discover over 200 planets to date. In addition, approximately 10 percent of the stars visible to the human eye are surrounded by exoplanets (Kasting 1).
Astronauts are currently using the velocity of the parent star to determine the mass of the exoplanet. It is important to note that scientist discovered the first exoplanet in 1999 via a high-tech spectroscopic measurement gadget. Currently, the findings by several astronomical instruments such as the US HIRES (Keck 10-m) telescope located in Hawaii have facilitated the discovery of planets with masses comparable to that of the Earth.
Scientists have also found that it is possible to spot an exoplanet that has mass corresponding to that of the Earth if the velocity of the host star is computed with a precision of approximately one meter for every second. Astronauts have also detected the presence of a star by examining the light it generates.
For instance, the targeted star can be detected from the microscopic reduction in the brightness of the parent star when the planet happens to move across its face. The result is synonymous to the transit of the Venus as gleaned from the earth. Although astrologists are able determine the variation in brightness, they are nonetheless not capable of detecting the transit of the planet across the parent star.
Although the transit mark (dimming) can be visible for several hours, the star must be screened for several years in order to detect a recurring pattern (which implies the existence of an excellent). It deserves merit to mention that the photometric transit technique has facilitated the discovery of over 100 exoplanets ever since 1999. Some of the exceptional breakthroughs are those of the US Kepler Satellite (set up in 1999), French-led CoRot Satellite, and the UK-led WASP Satellite (Ormel and Kobayashi 2).
There are two reasons why astrologists appear to favour photometric transit technique in detecting exoplanets. First, they can use the Doppler measurements to compute the planet’s mass on the basis of the gravitational force exerted on the host star. Second, the diameter of an exoplanet can be computed using the microscopic amount of dimming as it moves across the face of the parent star. Thus, the degree of the dimming will be higher if the exoplanet in transit is gigantic.
Astrologists can use these planetary characteristics (mass and size) to approximate the density of the planet. In addition, it is possible to ascertain the atmosphere and chemical compositions of a star by monitoring variations in the spectrum of the parent star. Astrologists are now able to partially determine the constituents of the exoplanet atmosphere (Kasting 1).
The Creation of Planetary Systems
Pierre-Simon Laplace, Immanuel Kant and Emmanuel Swedenborg are among the first scientists to propose theories relating to the formation of the planetary system. For instance, Laplace proposed that gravitational force caused nebulae (gaseous rings) to gradually rotate, crumple and even out resulting in the formation of planets.
In other words, Laplace’s theory suggests that planets emerged as a result of the disintegration of a distinct system of gaseous clouds wherein impulsive gravitational force resulted in the formation of planets. However, the theory was discarded in the 20th century since it did not explain how the matter could be disintegrated in a manner that the planet retained over 99 percent of the entire angular force in their orbit while the sun ended up with over 99.8 percent of the entire mass of the planetary system.
There are other theories relating to the solar system. For example, the Chamberlin-Moulton theory proposed that materials from an exploding sun led to the formation planets. On the other hand, the star-Sun collusion model suggests that a gigantic star collided with the Sun and resulted in the formation of the planetary systems (Kasting 3).
However, the solar nebula theory is currently the most recognized model that explains the manner in which planetary systems are formed. This model suggests that planets were created from dust particles and hydrogen gas. These components were by-products of previous cycles of stellar progression.
The intricate interstellar shock waves processes caused the hydrogen gas to subside. As a result, the dust particles and hydrogen crumpled into a massive proto-planetary disk resembling a pancake. The bottom-up process is believed to have taken place within the disk planes.
In addition, fusions and collision continued via several phases typified by qualitative disparities in each particle interaction. In other words, the primeval dust elements collided and combined on a continuous basis leading to the formation of rocks (approximately 10 meters in size). These rocks then proceeded to collide and developed into mini-planets (approximately 10km in size) after thousands of years (Kasting 3).
The gravitational force caused the mini-planets to develop further into rock-strewn terrestrial planets (such as Mars and Earth). The interior formations of the terrestrial planets were characterized by the chemical and physical delineation. In addition, the spherical outline of these planets was manipulated by their respective gravitational forces.
The gaseous giant planets (i.e. Saturn and Jupiter) formed far away from the parent star. This happened because their moderately small cores quickly amassed the hydrogen gas that emanated from the flattening disk. If the process of planetary formation takes place in a systematic way, the ensuing planets will emerge in spherical trajectories and their orbital paths will be parallel to the spinning axis of the parent star.
In addition, their trajectories will be perpendicular to their rotation axes. In general, the gigantic planets will form far away from the parent star where additional disk matter is present for accumulation. It appears that the broad characteristics of our solar system emerged from the process described above.
Scores of scientists believe that the snowline played a significant role in the formation of the planetary systems. It is an established fact that water turns into ice when the temperature falls below 180K. It appears that the snowline in the primordial solar nebular declined by approximately three times the distance between the sun and the Earth. There is a basis for this assertion since the C-class (water-rich) asteroids are principally located on the exterior part of the asteroid belt (Havel et al., 4).
The Structural Design of the Planetary System
The solar system is organized in an extremely intricate manner. The overall picture of the Sun, a limitless number of comets, the eight planets and their respective moons are simply astonishing.
Their isotopic and chemical compositions, age, density and mass depict an elaborate record of primordial development and successive evolutions manipulated by gravitational force and moulded by the phenomenon of quality. According to the radiogenic experiments on meteorites and seismological studies, the solar system is believed to be approximately 4.5 billion years old.
It is believed that the solar system was formed from the disintegrating dusts particles and hydrogen gas that came into existence around this period. Some scientists also believe that the eight planets were created from the systematic synthesis of protoplanets, planetesimals and rocks. Mars, Earth, Venus, and Mercury (terresial planets) formed adjacent to the Sun since there was a limited amount of disk particles (Kasting 3).
Scientists have made some major breakthroughs relating to the origin and characteristics of exoplanets. These discoveries have been made possible because previous theories relating to the formation of the solar system laid the basis for comprehending the composition and dynamics of the solar system.
However, these theories have undergone substantial adjustments in order to facilitate better understanding of our marvellous solar system. The current ground and space exploration missions are expected to new discoveries and augment the existing knowledge about the solar system.
It is not every time that an adventure starts with a leap into the unknown; however, this is what the BBC Erath narrator decided to open his story with. Watching a jumper slowly disappear in the depth of the Cave of Swallows (BBC Earth, 2010, March 21, 01:49), the audience learns how deep caves can go. As the narrator goes on, the audience learns that the insides of the Earth’s surface differ very little from Swiss cheese in that it is just as hole ridden.
After the narrator enters realm of stalactites and stalagmites, a short introduction to the residents of caves is provided. According to the author, despite a tangible lack of light, caves serve as dwellings for a number of species, including glow worms with their “ghostly blue light” (BBC Earth, 2010, March 21,01:55), bats, and other creatures.
As the author explains, the cave residents have learned to use the lack of light to their advantage. Later on, the narrator switches to the so-called “cave swiftlers” (BBC Earth, 2010, March 21, 07:19) and then proceeds with the description of other peculiar residents of the mysterious “underworld.”
As the story goes on, the audience finds out more about the animals that use caves only as a temporary shelter and prefer to leave them in the daytime for hunting, mating and playing. Lizards as the most frequent cold-blooded visitors of caves are mentioned; later on, the narrator mentions that in Africa, caves are often the residence of lions, which prefer to spend nights with a “roof” under their heads, since spending most of their daytime in the heat of the African sun is “truly exhausting” (BBC Earth, 2010, March 21, 34:47).
Surprisingly enough, at the end of the series, the audience finds out that the narrator has taken them out of the cave to the surface of one of the most famous deserts on the Earth, the Arctic desert. The “northern extreme of our planet” (BBC Earth, 2010, March 21, 43:11), though, seems just as hostile and mysterious as the depth of a cave. After taking a closer look at a family of polar bears, the narrator winds up his story, leaving the audience marvel at the many wonders of nature.
1. The country of Iran is located in the South-West Asia. With its land area accounting for 1,648,195 km2, Iran is considered the world’s seventeenth largest country. In the North, Iran borders Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, in the East – Afghanistan and Pakistan, in the West – Iraq. The country’s Southern shore is washed with The Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
Iran is considered one of the world’s most resource-rich nations. The country’s share in the discovered oil-deposits on the planet accounts for 10% and in the natural gas-deposits for 16%. This, of course, creates objective preconditions for Iran to influence the geopolitical developments in the area rather substantially, and to remain the focus of the most powerful international players’ attention. As of 20012, the country’s total GDP amounted to approximately $988.000 billion.
Out of the Iran’s population of some 65 million, 99% of citizens are the affiliates of Islam. Being an Islamic country, Iran features the world’s largest population of Shiites (about 50 million). Iran is considered a comparatively ‘young’ country, as 34% of its population is comprised of individuals under the age of 14 (Salehi-Isfahani 604).
As of recently, Iran has developed the capability to enrich uranium, which in turn caused the country to become the subject of the internationally imposed sanctions. This, however, did not have much of an effect of the functioning of the country’s economy. One of the reasons for this is that, despite being often referred to in terms of an ‘outcast’, Iran is informally allied with China, Russia and India.
2. The bulk of the country’s territory is situated upon the Iranian Plateau, which in turn causes Iran to be considered a predominantly mountainous country. The Iran’s highest mountain is the Mount Damavand (5604 m). The country’s lowest land-point (at the shore of the Caspian Sea) is 28 m.
The Iran’s East is predominantly covered with salt-deserts, the largest of which are Dasht-e Kavir and Dasht-e Lut. With the exception of a few oases, these areas are virtually uninhabited. The country’s largest plains are located in the North (along the Caspian Sea’s shore) and in the South-West (along the shore of the Persian Gulf).
The Iran’s West is dominated by the mountainous system of Zagros, with the total length of about 1500 km. Even though the country’s Western areas are considered the most seismically active, they are simultaneously being the most populated ones. Along with the earlier mentioned oil and natural gas, Iran is rich with uranium, copper and iron.
There are a few rivers in the Eastern Iran and The Karun River in the Southwest. Most of the country’s rivers are becoming progressively shallower. The same can be said about the majority of lakes in Iran, many of which are on the verge of being turned into the salt-water swamps.
The Iran’s climate is best described as subtropical, continental. The January’s average temperature in the southernmost parts of Iran is +15 degree Celsius, with the same temperature in the North being estimated to account for -2 degree Celsius.
Most of the country’s territory receives from 50 mm to 500 mm of a rainfall annually, which in turn contributes to the Iranian climate’s strongly defined aridness.
3. The Iranian national culture continues to be strongly affected by the religious provisions of Islam, which in turn causes it to be deeply patriarchal/traditionalistic.
As Price noted: “Iranian culture is Class based, traditional and patriarchal. Tradition for most is rooted in religion and class and patriarchy have been constant features of Iranian society since ancient times” (par. 1). This explains why many of the seemingly outdated cultural traditions continue to be widely practiced, throughout Iran – hence, defining the essence of the country’s social realities.
These traditions prescribe Iranians to pay an utter respect to the elders, to be endowed with the sense of a social solidarity and to pursue a highly religious lifestyle (while interacting with each other, Iranians are expected to never cease remaining thoroughly observant of the Islamic code of Sharia). This explains probably one of the Iranian culture’s most striking features – the fact that the majority of Iranians does not tolerate any alcoholic beverages, whatsoever.
What also appears to be especially notable about the country’s cultural landscape is that the majority citizens do not accept the ideals of a gender-equality. In Iran, men and women are expected to act in the manner, fully consistent with what happened to be their biologically defined roles in the society. To ensure that this is indeed being the case, the Iranian government established the so-called ‘morality police’, the members of which are entrusted with the task of enforcing the Islamic morality’s rules and regulations.
The country’s three most influential ethno-groups are Persians, Pashtuns and Kurds. This highlights probably the most important difference between Iran and the rest of the Muslim countries, in the ethno-cultural sense of this word – the fact that, unlike the latter, Iran is predominantly populated by people of the Indo-European racial background.
4. Iran’s economy depends on oil and natural gas, with the related industries contributing rather substantially to the generation of GNP. As of 2001, the revenue generated by the Iranian economy’s gas-sector alone amounted to $20 billion (“Encyclopedia of the Nations: Iran” par. 29).
Partially, this explains why it is specifically the petrochemical industry, which is being closely affiliated with the bulk of the manufacturing enterprises in Iran – natural gas accounts for 60% of the raw materials, utilized by the petrochemical plants in the country. The main products (export-items) of the Iranian petrochemical industry are fertilizers and methanol.
The country’s banking sector is dominated by the state-owned banks, which operate in full accordance with the provisions of the so-called ‘Islamic banking’. However, during the course of recent decades, the government substantially liberalized this particular sector of the economy, by the mean of allowing the privatization of the Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE),
The Iranian agriculture accounts for the one-fifth of GDP. This can be well thought of as the indication of this particular sector of Iran’s economy being technologically advanced to an extent, as only 12% of the country’s territory is considered agriculturally approachable. As of today, the government pursues with the policy of encouraging farmers to join the collectively owned agricultural enterprises.
Overall, the Iranian economy can be characterized, as such, that is being heavily affected by the policy of an economic protectionism, on the government’s part. This is the reason why, despite lacking profitableness, many of the Iranian manufacturing companies nevertheless continue to enjoy a number of different subsidies from the government (“2014 Index of Freedom: Iran” par. 4).
5. The political system of Iran is best defined as theocracy, with the elements of parliamentarism. The government’s highest office, assigned with many legislative and judicial powers, is that of the Supreme Leader. In its turn, the Supreme Leader is elected by the ‘Assembly of Experts’, consisting of the Iran’s most prominent religious leaders.
The President of Iran (representing the government’s executive branch) is elected by the mean of a popular vote among the citizens. The President’s another function is to preside over the Council of Ministers, the members of which are appointed by the Parliament. Nevertheless, the very nature of Iranian politics severely limits the President’s ability to influence the process of the legislative/executive decision-making in the country.
According to Kagan: “Iran’s presidency thus combines most of the weaknesses of both a presidential and a prime ministerial form of government with few of the strengths” (par. 2). Along with the Supreme Leader, the Iranian Parliament also exercises a legislative authority, mainly concerned with managing the country’s financial affairs.
What makes the Iranian system of a political governing unique is the fact that it is based upon the Islamic law of Sharia. In its turn, this requires the country’s politicians to adjust their corporate agenda to be fully consistent with the main tenets of Islam.
The system’s another prominent feature is that, despite remaining utterly theocratic, it nevertheless does establish many objective preconditions for citizens to be able to take part in the thoroughly democratic Presidential elections.
Given the fact that, ever since the Islamic Revolution of 1979, the government did succeed in many of its undertakings (such as the promotion of literacy), there is a good reason to think that the manner in which the government handles the country’s internal and foreign affairs, is indeed reflective of the citizens’ will.
6. The Iranian army is believed to be one of the world’s strongest. As of today, it features the force of 540.000 strong and it is adequately equipped with modern tanks, artillery pieces and aircrafts. Conscripts, who account for about two-thirds of the country’s military personnel, serve for the duration of eighteen months (Cordesman 15).
Structurally speaking, the Armed Forces of Iran consist of the Iranian Army (ground forces), the Iranian Navy and the Iranian Air Force. Along with the regular Armed Forces, the Iranian system of national defense heavily relies upon the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution, which consists of the fully equipped military formations, composed of the Supreme Leader’s most ardent supporters (120.000).
The Army of the Guardians operates its own Navy and the special-force unit. There is also a governmentally sponsored paramilitary organization in Iran, commonly referred to as the Basij, with the membership of approximately 12 million (including women). The organization’s members are required to spend a few weeks per year being trained in boot camps.
As of 2009, the country’s defense budget accounted for about $9.5 billion, which causes Iran to be considered one of the world’s twenty-five most militarized nations. Such a state of affairs has been predetermined by the fact that, ever since the early nineties, Iran began to invest heavily into establishing its own defense industry.
Eventually, this allowed Iran to realize itself being in the position to manufacture fighter planes, submarines, tanks, APCs and guided/ballistic missiles. This, of course, substantiates the validity of the suggestion that, in the area of the Persian Gulf, Iran can indeed be considered as the most military potent country.
7. Politically speaking, Iran can be referred to as a rather stable country. One of the reasons for this is that the very paradigm of a theocratic governing undermines the acuteness of the citizens’ dissent with the deployed socio-economic policies. Nevertheless, there are a number of rather pressing challenges to the continuation of the earlier mentioned stability in Iran. The foremost of these challenges can be outlined as follows:
a) The fact that the younger generations of Iranians grow increasingly secularized, which in turn makes it much harder for the government to exercise a full control over the socio-political dynamics in the country (Swan par. 4).
c) The continuation of the economic recession, which has been causing the steady growth of the unemployment rate among Iranians, throughout the last decade. This, of course, adds even further to the anti-governmental sentiment among many Iranians.
d) The continuous enactment of the internationally imposed economic sanctions against Iran, on the account of the country’s commitment to proceed with developing its nuclear program. These sanctions effectively impede the government’s effort in trying to increase the quality of living standards in Iran.
Nevertheless, there is a certain reason to think that the government would be able to successfully address the above-mentioned challenges. The rationale behind this suggestion is that, as of today, the focus of the America’s geopolitical attention continues to shift away from Iran, which in turn makes it harder for the agents of foreign influence in this country to proceed with encouraging people to revolt. The suggestion’s validity can also be illustrated in regards to the growing geopolitical influence of Russia and China in the area.
Works Cited
2014 Index of Freedom: Iran 2014. Web.
Cordesman, A. Iranian Weapons of Mass Destruction: The Broader Strategic Context. Washington: Center for Strategic and International Studies, 2009. Print.
Encyclopedia of the Nations: Iran 2005. Web.
Kagan, F. 2006. Political Structures of Iran. Web.
Price, M. 2001. Codes of Behavior, Iranian Experience. Web.
Salehi-Isfahani, D. “Demographic Factors in Iran’s Economic Development.” Social Research 67.2 (2000): 599-620. Print.
Swan, D. 2008. Problems Facing Iran’s Stability: Economic Challenges and the Youth Movement. Web.
Kuala Lumpur is a region in Malaysia, which is a good example of urban dynamics. The population growth of the Kuala Lumpur region varies from the core of the city to the suburbs. The population growth in the core of the city is extremely high and is approximated to have doubled between 1980 census and 2000 census.
By the year 2010, the increase in population had tripled that of the year 1980. There is a great difference in percentage growth in the suburbs and in the core of the city. As much as there is a high population growth in the core, the growth of the population in the suburbs has been more rapid, nearly six times that of the city. At the current growth rate of the region, the population could approach 10 million by 2025 (Bindloss & Brash, 2008).
The Kuala Lumpur area is vast and experiences continuous development. According to Dorai (2007), it ranks as the 49th largest urban area in the world. With a population of 6.6million (estimate) on 750 square miles, the population density of the urban area is 8,800 per square mile. Its population density is higher in the city than in the suburbs, but as a whole, the region’s density lies in the same class as the Western European urban areas.
Economically, Kuala Lumpur is an affluent region according to the developing world standards. Based on the purchasing power, it has a high gross domestic product per capita annually, which is higher than most Latin America metropolitan economies. Employment in the region is concentrated in exterior region of the central business district and according to King and Australia (2008), there is an expectation in percentage increase as that of the central business district deteriorates.
The region’s transportation has developed greatly as the region’s basic mode of transportation is personal means, cars and motorcycles. This has not inhibited the development of mass means of transport. The development of metro lines, a monorail and commuter rail line is clear in the region.
Its transit system is a reflection of the high income it earns. However, Kuala Lumpur is highly dependent on transit as compared to most US metropolitan areas. The transport system is extensively networked with expressways that include tunnels. For example, there is the SMART tunnel that functions for both vehicles and storm water in case of flooding. They close the tunnel to vehicles when a serious flood occurs (Dorai, 2007). This greatly demonstrates that the level of growth the region of Kuala Lumpur has increased.
Unlike many regions that destroy their environments so as to pave way for urbanization, this region has remained green despite its high level of urbanization. The retained green areas of the region are clearer in the residential area where the houses are not very close to each other. The central business district is also substantially green, considering it is a business district. The location of the Kuala Lumpur is an added advantage to the green environment. It is located in a densely forested tropical region (Dorai, 2007).
This is a region to which any and every developing nation would look up to. A great percentage people in the world, work towards what the common people of Kuala Lumpur have already achieved. The perception is that the region has a very bright future, and it is obvious no one can dispute that. As the urban area expands in population and land area, so does the prosperity of its inhabitants rise and give the world a target to strive towards.
References
Bindloss, J., & Brash, C. (2008). Kuala Lumpur, Melaka & Penang. New York: Centraal Boekhuis.
Dorai, F. (2007). Kuala Lumpur: Boston: Frontier Publishers.
King, R., & Australia, A. S. A. o. (2008). Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya: Negotiating Urban Space in Malaysia. Chicago: Asian Studies Association of Australia.
Animals do not just have colors for beautification. Various animals have colors and tints that help them to survive in the harsh conditions of the jungle. Predators are always looking for food to eat. In this regard, animals usually have colors and tint that are similar to the surrounding environment in which they live. This is highly helpful to the animals in two ways.
Firstly, prey animals are able to use these colors and tint to disguise themselves and thus avoid being seen by predators from long distances. This is a survival mechanism to ensure that at least these animals live to maturity. Secondly, the colors and tint can work in favor of predators. When predators have colors and tint which is almost the same as that of their ecological niche, they can be able to trap their prey making hunting easier. In this regard, the colors and tint act as a hunting aid thus ensuring survival of the predators.
What Natural Selection Modification cannot Do
Natural selection will modify the structure of any animal so that the animal can survive. However, natural selection cannot modify the structure of an animal to its disadvantage. Structural modification of animals is always in favor of the animals. Therefore, if an animal is to undergo modification of its structure that may lead to disadvantages in a given section, the modification will be slow. At the same time, the section will be undergoing modification so that it is to the advantage of the animal.
Natural selection will always ensure that the best species survives while the unfit perishes. In this regard, when natural conditions of an area change, natural selection will not modify the structure of an animal so that it cannot survive. On the contrary, natural selection will always be modifying the structure of any animal so that it is fit to survive on the prevailing natural conditions. In a nutshell, structural modification by natural selection is always aimed at ensuring that animals survive.
Difference between Species and Varieties
One basic difference between species and varieties is that while species are animals or plants which belong to the same genus, varieties are organisms belonging to the same species but with slight differences. Different species though belonging to the same genus, usually exhibit high degree differences which range from physical to morphological. Organisms of different species may not even live in the same ecological niche.
On the other hand, organisms of different varieties usually belong to the same species but exhibit minor differences. It is important to note that differences of varieties are mostly physical.
Organisms of different varieties may even be occupying the same ecological niche contrary to organisms of different species. In this regard, it is important to note that the differences among members of different varieties are of lesser degrees compared to those among members of different species. In more instances, varieties come about as a result of sexual selection.
Traits Perpetuated through Sexual Selection
Basic differences among animals of the same species are usually as a result of sexual selection. This includes color, shape of the mouth and other physical characters. As far as sexual selection is concerned, the characters of the dominant males are always the prevalent ones. It is important to note that sexual selection is not responsible for survival qualities of an organism.
Nonetheless, sexual traits from a dominant male always prevail among the group. The trait of domineering and fighting other male members so as to remain a dominant male are as a result of sexual selection. The offspring of a dominant male will always be good at fighting and endowed with the best fighting mechanism. On the other hand, offspring of weak male will always be in jeopardy because they do not have the requirements to protect themselves and their female partners.
Natural Selection Compared to Sexual Selection
Natural selection is about survival and every animal or plant that is not best suited will perish. Natural selection separates organisms with the best characters from animals with the bad characters. The results are clear to every organism; if it is not best suited it will die. On the other hand, sexual selection is about which male is strong enough to dominate and have offspring.
The male can fight but it is not necessarily that death can result. A defeated male can move from that part and relocate to another ecological niche where it can continue surviving. The characters that are gained through sexual selection are important to ensure continuity of the dominant male’s lineage.
However, characters gained through natural selection are vital to ensure survival of the animal. Natural selection can modify an animal to ensure that it is fit to survive. However, no such modification occurs as a result of sexual selection. In this regard, natural selection is about life and death as opposed to sexual selection. A reason as to why Darwin says that sexual selection is less rigorous than natural selection.
Botswana is a country found in Southern Africa that is ranked among the highest diamond producers in the world. The tremendous growth in Botswana’s economy over the last three decades is attributed to its valuable diamonds. There are very few countries that produce diamond and this therefore makes diamond to be among the most valuable minerals in the world.
This paper will explore the socio-economic and environmental impacts of diamond mining in Botswana. The price of diamond at the international market is fairly good compared to other minerals. The economy of Botswana is among the best in Africa because the country has large deposits of valuable diamonds.
Botswana discovered diamonds for the first time in the late 1960s. At independence, a larger percentage of Botswana’s population was languishing in poverty because the country had not discovered its vast mineral resources (Collier 37). The three main diamond mines in Botswana include Letlhakane, Jwaneng and Orapa.
The production of diamonds from the three mines made Botswana to be among the leading diamond producers in the world by 1980 (Collier 56). Botswana has the best brand of diamonds due to their high value compared to those from other countries. The Damtshaa mine which was established in 2002 is the most recent mine in Botswana. Botswana is blessed with large quantities of diamond that is yet to be fully exploited (Collier 113). It is estimated that Botswana produces 25% of all the diamond in the global market.
Botswana has an estimated total population of 2.1 million people with an average population growth rate of 1.656% (Dale 75). The adult population in Botswana is estimated to be 39% of the total population.
Botswana is estimated to be 581,730 km2 with 75% of its land surface covered by the Kalahari Desert (Dale 76). The country has a high mortality rate as a result of the AIDS pandemic that is very prevalent. The urban population is estimated to be 60% of the country’s total population. Botswana has a life expectancy of 60.3 years (Collier 87).
The majority of workers who work in diamond mines are local people with a considerable number of foreign expatriates (Collier 94). The major mining companies have a joint ownership between the government and foreign companies. Almost half a million local people earn their living either directly or indirectly from the four major mines in Botswana. The AIDS pandemic is very prevalent in mining towns as a result of the carefree lifestyles in the towns.
Many sex workers move to mining towns in order to exploit money from the miners who are well paid (Collier 94). The mining companies in collaboration with the Botswana government have put in place HIV/AIDS prevention programs especially for the mine workers. The people in rural areas practice some subsistence farming and at the same time receive financial support from their relatives in mining towns (Mcntyre 132).
Diamond mining has brought significant economic benefits to the local communities in Botswana (Mcntyre 132). The mining industry has benefited the entire country because the majority of government functions and programs are funded using proceeds from diamond exports. Other industries such as agriculture and tourism rely on the mining industry for funding (Dale 66).
The education and health sectors have significantly been improved through the building of new schools and hospitals that benefit the local community. Botswana has moved from being among the poorest countries in the world at independence to a middle income economy after the discovery of diamonds (Dale 66). The local communities have benefited greatly from the diamond mines through the improvement of infrastructure and the numerous job opportunities found in the mines.
Mining companies in Botswana work under strict international environmental conservation guidelines to ensure environmental sustainability. The companies conduct frequent monitoring of water; air and land as a way of preserving the natural surrounding and at the same time minimize the potential environmental risks (Dale 114). Mining companies have played a significant role in the conservation of flora and fauna to promote the tourism industry.
The mining companies distribute free antiretroviral drugs to minimize the number of employee deaths resulting from HIV (Collier 147). The price of rough and refined diamond has been fluctuating in the last four years depending on market dynamics. Botswana mines an average of 23 million carats of rough diamond annually with an average price of $ 170.36 per carat (Mcntyre 74). Diamond prices are slightly high in the United States with an average price of rough diamond being sold at $ 236.30 per carat (Mcntyre 75).
In conclusion, diamond mining is a major economic activity in Botswana that has been instrumental in improving the country’s economy. The mine workers are well remunerated on top of being provided with good working conditions. Safety measures are a priority in all the mines in Botswana and this has reduced the number of accidents that occur in the mines (Collier 156). Australia and the United States record more mine accidents compared to Botswana.
The Government of Botswana in partnership with mining companies offers special services and outreach programs for mine workers with medical conditions. The special initiatives have greatly benefited those workers who are infected or affected by the HIV pandemic (Collier 157). Local production of diamond products should be encouraged to create more jobs for the local people. Despite facing its fair share of challenges, Botswana’s mining industry is a perfect model for other countries to emulate.
Works Cited
Collier, Paul. Breaking the Conflict Trap: Civil War and Development Policy, New York: World Bank Publications, 2003. Print.
Dale, Richard. Botswana’s Search for Autonomy in Southern Africa, New York: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2005. Print.
The Grand Canyon is the second largest canyon in the world. The region has attracted a lot of tourists from various parts of the world for different reasons. Tourists come to this region for many reasons. Some of the tourists are scholars, while others are just holiday makers.
The rocks of Grand Canyon were formed in a number of ways. The sedimentary rocks found in this place have been inexistence for a period of over 2 billion years. Various climatic conditions and environmental factors have reshaped the rocks in this place. Currently, the rocks exist in different layers, with each layer being unique.
Introduction
The Grand Canyon is one of the most visited places in the world due to its wonderful nature. According to Karl, the Grand Canyon is one of the largest tourist’s attractions in the world, drawing attention of both leisure and academic tourists. This scholar observes that this place is one of the most amazing sceneries around the globe.
The rocks, the trees, and the animals found in the Grand Canyon National Park, and the general nature of this place has seen it make visitors come to the region several times. Thayer says that nature at times comes with many wonders. This scholar says that the nature at the Grand Canyon is breathtaking because there are a number of objects which are obviously defying nature.
The nature of this place demonstrates a number of facts about the development of Grand Canyon. There are a number of natural sceneries in North America with some of the amazing features. However, the Grand Canyon presents something special to visitors who either come for leisure or for academic purposes. The caves in this place formed due to a number of natural activities, come in different shapes and sizes. The caves clearly demonstrate the strength of the rocks around it[1].
The rocks of the Grand Canyon are some of the most beautiful sceneries at this place. Kaiser says that the rocks of the Grand Canyon have attracted the attention of various scholars from different professions. The sedimentary rocks are arranged in beautiful layers of over 40 that are visible when one visits the Grand Canyon National Park. According to Abbott, there are about fourteen unconformities in geologic records which are in Grand Canyon.
These are features that are obviously going against the law of nature. Understanding these rocks will require an understanding of the historical perspective of the development that took place, and which resulted into the sceneries at Grand Canyon. This research is focused understanding the physical and historic geological facts about the Grand Canyon.
The Formation of the Rocks of Grand Canyon
The history of the geology of the Grand Canyon can be traced back to about 2 billion years ago. According to Augustin, a number of scholars have tried coming up with explanations as to how the rocks at Grand Canyon were formed.
Various geologists have studied the fossils found in this place in order to explain the facts about the formation of this place. This scholar says that some of the records about the formation of this place are contradictory. However, recent geologists have come into agreement in some of the facts. The fact that the rocks at Grand Canyon have been in existence for the last 2000 million years is undisputed.
Karl says that during those Precambrian times, substances such as sand, ashes, silt and mud were on the shallow end of marine basin adjacent to the organic belt. In about 1800 to 1600 million years ago, a number of Island arcs came into a collision with proto-North American continents. The plate tectonic processes then condensed and grafted some marine sediment in the basin. The sediments were pushed out of the sea onto mainland. As time went by, these rocks were buried deep under the surface, about 12 miles deep.
This resulted in a massive pressure on these rocks from the weight above them. The result was the formation of metamorphic rock. The resultant is what was named as Granite Gorge Metamorphic Suite which has attracted the attention of archeologists and geologists alike. This granite consists of Metasedimentary Vishnu, and Metavolcanic Brahma which were formed about 1700 million years ago.
During the collision of mainland and volcanic islands, several magma blobs arose from subduction zone, and then intruded into Granite Gorge Metamorphic Suite. The plutons iced slowly, which then formed Zoroaster Granite. Some part of the granite would later form metamorphosed gneiss. This is visible currently when one is studying these rocks as bands with a light color. According to Thayer, this intrusion took place in three phases. In the early Vishnu age, there were 2 phases of this intrusion.
The third intrusion came much later in about 1400 million years ago. This phase experience a massive faulting, specifically along the south-north faults. This led to a partial rift of the continent. The collision would then lead to the extension of this continent, from Wyoming-Colorado borders to Mexico, nearly doubling-up the depth of the crust in the entire region of Grand Canyon. This was how the ancestral Mazatzal Mountains which is about 10 kilometers high was formed.
Then subsequent erosion came, which lasted about 300 million of years. This erosion swept away sediments of the mountain. The consistent erosion of the mountains over a span of several years resulted in reduction of the height of the mountains, and after a while, the high mountains were turned into small hills which are barely ten meters high.
According to Kaiser, two main factors have contributed to the formation of rocks within this country. About two million years ago, the climate in this region played a major role in the formation of rocks of the Grand Canyon. The region was very wet all through the year. This scholar describes this as the ice age which was about 2 million years ago. During this time, excavation at the Grand Canyon was very high, which dug it deep as it stands now. The figure below shows some of the excavated site at the Grand Canyon.
Figure 1
This figure shows the activities of nature that has resulted in a massive excavation of the sedimentary rocks formed about 1800 millions years earlier. The wet weather meant that there was a constant flow of water during most part of the year. The figure above shows a ridge formed due to constant flow o water. The figure clearly demonstrates the power of water in motion in the development of some rocks. The movement of water started off by washing away the top, soil which could easily be swept away.
As the top soil was washed away, the sedimentary rock that had been formed due to the cooked-pressure remained exposed to the flowing water. This movement of water on the rock slowly excavated the rock over hundreds of millions of years. The first step would be to soften the rock. When the rock was made soft, it became easier for some of its particles to break off, and with time, the erosion became deeper and bigger. As Karl explains, the flowing water would form a path.
The figure above shows a path of water that can be clearly be stated as the main agent of the erosion of the sediments. Other parts where the water has not formed its path have remained higher. As the rock particles fall into the moving water, they are always swept off into downer parts of the stream. As they move in this water, they come under constant collision leading to their further breakage.
They decrease in size, and lose their original shapes. The vegetation is another natural factor that has had impact in the formation of the rocks. The sedimentary rocks can be strong enough to withstand the flow o water for a very long period of time. However, when there are vegetations on the rock, some of the roots would crack the rocks as they penetrate into the soil.
When the rock is crack, it becomes easy for water to penetrate into the rock and cause further erosion of the sediments. Earth quake forms another agent of the breakage of the rock in this region. The region is still prone to massive earthquakes which create cracks on the rocks. Mass wasting erosions still affect the regions, leading to further breakage of the sedimentary rocks.
Human activities have affected the rocks of the Great Canyon in two main ways. At first, activities of human accelerated the excavation of the sedimentary rocks. During those early years, farming was not practiced. However, hunting and gathering wild fruits were common. This could also involve digging deep into the soil to get some of the roots that were either considered as medicine, or fruits.
This digging was part of excavation, and when water swept such surfaces, erosion would be inevitable. As men became more sophisticated, farming became important. Farming also had an increasing effect on the excavation of the rocks. It was easier for the soil on the farms to be swept off. By the end of Pleistocene ice age nearing the onset of the Holocene, the climatic condition of this area began to change.
This was majorly due to human activities. The climate of this area was changing from a cool and wet pluvial climate, to a semi-arid climate. The area is currently a semi-arid. With the conditions getting drier, water erosion on the rocks became less. However, mass wasting was on the rise. Several cliffs became stiffer, making the Grand Canyon and tributary canyons wider. Mass wasting was reducing rocks in this canyon, as the debris fell off and was swept into Colorado River in a gradual and consistent process[2].
As modernization came to effect, people realized the importance of preserving these sites. Upon the realization that the sites were important, people came up with strategies that would help preserve these places. Building of dams have significantly minimized capability of Colorado River (which was one of the leading excavators of the canyons) to dig out the rocks Grand Cantons.
It has totally changed the pattern of movement of sediments, and their deposition. Glen Canyon Dam was constructed to control floods in order to bring a restorative effect on the Canyons. Animals, both domesticated and wild animals also play a vital role in the developments of the rocks at Grand Canyon.
Every animal, both carnivores and herbivores play an important role in the development of rocks. When these animals walk within the Grand Canyon National Park, they break particles of the rock. This is especially so to the large herbivores with hooves which have the ability to break rocks into smaller particles. These herbivores also eat the vegetations that cover the soil. This leaves the soil bear, and when rain comes, it easily erodes the rocks.
The Composition of the Rocks of Grand Canyon
According to Abbott, understanding the composition of the rocks of the Grand Canyon may be interesting process. This geologist and a scholar say that the rocks of Grand Canyon have been in existence for a period of over 70 million of years. The plate tectonics on the North American continents and other adjacent island caused collision, and this was the genesis of how the rocks in this place started forming, as explained above.
As time went by, several activities, mostly natural process accompanied by some human activities, resulted in a massive erosion of the rocks, and the result is what we have today; different layers of rocks on top of one another forming the current Grand Canyon. The figure below shows the composition of the rocks of the Grand Canyon[3].
Figure 2
The figure above shows rocks arranged in a strata, with each stratum having a particular layer of rocks having different years. The layers are as follows.
Kaibab Limestone
This is the top most layers in the strata. According to reports given by Thayer (29), this layer is over 250 million of years old. The Kaibab Limestone has formed the surface of Coconino and Kaibab plateaus. In this stratum, the composition of the rocks is mainly sandy limestone, with a huge layer of sandstone under it.
Shale and sandstone subsist as upper layers in a number of places, particularly the upper regions of the cliffs (Abbott 94). The color of this layer is ranging from grayish-white to cream, depending on a number of factors. Abbott (26) notes that the layer has a strong resemble with a bathtub ring, and so the layer was named Canyon bathtub ring.
This scholar says that geologists have stated that this ring was curved in a way that may give the impression that the process was influenced by activities of human being. Besides the rocks stated above, some fossils also form composition of this layer. This includes the sea lilies, the corals, mollusks, and some brachiopods (Abbott 22). Fish teeth and worms also form part of this layer.
Toroweap Formation
This is the second stratum. This stratum is about 255 million of years old. This layer was formed through a pretty similar process as that of Kaibab Limestone above, but as time went by, it was pushed down due to the formation of the Kaibab Limestone. The composition of the rocks in this layer is similar to that in the Kaibab Limestone. Their fossil history is almost the same, only that the worms and fish teeth found in Kaibab Limestone are very minimal in Toroweap Formations. This layer is dark in color. The color ranges from grey to yellow[4].
Coconino Sandstone
The formation of this layer was in about 260 million of years ago. The rock composition in this layer is different from that of the above two layers. In this layer, the main composition of the rocks is pure quartz sand. According to Kaiser (59), these are essentially petrified sand dunes. This scholar also states that this stratum has a wedge shape cross bending, which is visible in places where the traverse section of the layer can be seen. In this layer, the color ranges from cream to white colors (Abbott 83).
Although archeologists and geologists have tried to study the rocks in this layer, skeletal fossils are yet to be found here. This may be an indication that this layer could not have supported life. However, the geologists and archeologists are still studying this layer for further investigation because a number of invertebrate tracks, and some fossilized burrows have been discovered.
Hermit Shale
This layer has been in existence for about 265 million of years. In this layer are the soft and easily eroded shale rocks (Karl 45). They have formed a slope. The weakness of this layer has been the main agent of mass wasting of these rocks. Because of this weakness, the rocks in this layer easily break off, undermining the sedimentary rocks in the above layer.
This makes it easy for this layer, and layers on top of it to fall off into the drainage in the lower canyons down into Tonto Platform. In this layer, the color is rust-colored red. The fossils in this layer include conifers, ferns, and other plants. Also discovered were fossilized tracks of amphibians and reptiles.
Supai Formation
This layer has been in existence for about 285 million of years. The layer mainly consists of shale which is mixed up with limestone capped together by sandstone (Thayer 48). In the western part of the Canyon, limestone features are more prominent (Augustin 29). Geologists have associated this by the possibility that this side could have been a marine as opposed to the eastern part. In this layer, the color ranges from tan for sandstone caps, to red for shale (Abbott 46).
On the eastern section, there are a number of fossils of the reptiles, the amphibians and some terrestrial plants, whilst on western part are the marine fossils (Thayer 19).
Redwall Limestone
This layer has been in existence for about 335 million of years (Karl 87). The main composition of this layer includes dolomites and marine limestone. According to Augustin (65), the Redwall limestone is the most prominent of the Canyon layers forming a cliff of about 400-500 feet high.
This layer is a barrier between upper canyon and the lower parts of Canyon. Though various earth movements, this layer cracked in some regions, breaking the barrier between the upper and lower parts of the canyon. The rock is brown in color. However, due to the presence of iron oxide, this layer appears to be red. Some of the fossils in this layer include corals, fish, trilobites and clams (Augustin 34).
Temple Butte Limestone
This layer has been in existence for about 350 million years. In the eastern part is dolomite; while to the west is freshwater limestone. The rocks in this layer are irregular. This may be due to the erosion of the Mauv Limestone. The layers are also very prominent, which then forms a cliff of great heights of several hundreds of feet (Karl 67). The colors of the layers range from grayish cream to the west, to purple on the east[5].
Tonto Group.
The rocks in this layer have been in existence for over 515 million of years. These layers differ in color and composition. Vishnu Schist forms the base of the Grand Canyon
Conclusion
The Rock of Grand Canyon is one of the geographical wonders around the world. The rocks have attracted a number of geologists who have developed interest in understanding how the formation of the rocks was. The formation of the rocks was heavily influenced by a number of climatic conditions. The initial rocks of this place were ingenious rock. This changed after a long period of natural activities. The rocks of The Grand Canyon are mainly sedimentary, having been formed due to weathering process of the initial rocks.
References
Augustin B. The Grand Canyon. New York, Marshall Cavendish Benchmark, 2010.
Kaiser J. Grand Canyon: the Complete Guide. Ringgold: Destination Press, 2011.
Karl K. Grand Canyon Geology: Two Billion Years of Earth’s History. Boulder: Geological Society of America, 2012.
Stanley S. Earth System History Third Edition. New York: Clancy Marshall, 2009.
Thayer D. An Introduction to Grand Canyon Fossils. New York: Grand Canyon Association, 2009. Print.
Footnotes
Augustin B. The Grand Canyon. New York, Marshall Cavendish Benchmark, 2010.
Karl K. Grand Canyon Geology: Two Billion Years of Earth’s History. Boulder: Geological Society of America, 2012.
Thayer D. An Introduction to Grand Canyon Fossils. New York: Grand Canyon Association, 2009. Print.
Kaiser J. Grand Canyon: the Complete Guide. Ringgold: Destination Press, 2011.
Stanley S. Earth System History Third Edition. New York: Clancy Marshall, 2009.
