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H3 Confluence of two major rivers. Colorado and Green Rivers, Canyonlands
National Park. Utah, USA
Position:
N38° 15'
W109° 10' approx.
Elevation:
5000' / 914m approx.
Image format:
MF 35mm
CONFLUENCE OF TWO RIVERS
Two great American Rivers - the Green and the Colorado join at
this point in the Canyonlands of Utah. The Green Rivers bears
SEDIMENT eroded from Utah and Wyoming to the North. The Colorado
brings sediment from eastern Utah and Colorado. The contrast is
striking. The point where two rivers join is called a CONFLUENCE.
A BEACH has been DEPOSITED by the river flow on the left. River
flow is slowest around the inside of bends so less sediment can
be carried and some is DEPOSITED. The next flood will probably
ERODE the beach away (see "Links", below). TAMARISK plants line
the river banks.
Major John Wesley Powell camped at this confluence July 16-19th
1869 on his epic boat journey through the Green River and Colorado
River canyons.
Less detail
Image Trail:
L3 Weathered and Eroded strata. Capitol Reef National Park, Utah,
USA
L4 River canyon cut through horizontal strata. Cataract Canyon,
Colorado River
H32 Grand Canyon & Colorado Plateau. Arizona, USA.
L37/38/39 Incised meanders. Goosenecks, San Juan River. Utah, USA
H11 Lake Powell, Utah, USA
Links:
www.surweb.org/surweb/tour/jwp/jwprhm.htm (includes an aerial shot of the confluence - with no beach present)
www.kaibab.org/powell/powexp.htm
http://geography.com.sg/weathering/index.html
http://geography.com.sg/rivers/index.html |
