description Colorado Plateau Overview
The Colorado Plateau is a broad physiographic province of the southwestern United States covering parts of Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico. It is characterized by high elevations, dry climate, and extensive layers of sedimentary rock exposed in mesas, cliffs, canyons, and other eroded landforms. The Colorado River crosses the region and helped carve the Grand Canyon, while the plateau's national parks and public lands make it a major setting for geology and landscape study.
help Colorado Plateau FAQ
Which states contain the Colorado Plateau?
The Colorado Plateau covers large parts of Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico around the Four Corners region. The National Park Service treats the Grand Canyon as one of the major landscapes dissecting this high plateau.
How did the Colorado Plateau help form the Grand Canyon?
Uplift raised the plateau and exposed thick layers of rock, after which the Colorado River and its tributaries cut deeply into them. The National Park Service describes the river as having begun carving the modern canyon roughly six million years ago.
Which national parks are associated with the Colorado Plateau?
The region includes or borders major parks such as Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef. Their cliffs, canyons, and exposed rock layers reflect the plateau's uplift and long history of erosion.
Is the Colorado Plateau the same as the Colorado Desert?
No. The Colorado Plateau is a high-elevation region centered on the Four Corners, while the Colorado Desert is a low desert area in southeastern California and nearby Mexico.
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