Grand Canyon even older than previously thought, says study
2013-01-02
Arizona's Grand Canyon National Park is one of the most popular
tourist attractions in the world. Boasting breathtaking views and an exciting
range of ways to experience this enormous gorge, the Grand Canyon attracts
millions of visitors every year. According to the results of a controversial new
study, this iconic canyon may be even older than some scientists originally
believed, reports The Associated Press.
Prior to the publication of the
study, which was conducted by researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder
and CalTech, experts believed the canyon was formed by the Colorado River within
the past 5-6 million years. However, the study claims that the gorge may have
been formed as long as 70 million years ago, meaning dinosaurs may once have
roamed the plains of Arizona.
Researchers used a new dating method to
analyze geological samples from the western part of the canyon to arrive at
their conclusions. Despite this, several prominent geologists have dismissed the
study's findings.
"Arguments will continue over the age of Grand Canyon,
and I hope our study will stimulate more work to decipher the mysteries,"
Rebecca Flowers, lead researcher on the project, told the news source.
According to The New York Times, Karl E. Karlstrom of the University of New
Mexico said that similar theories have been put forward in the past, and he does
not believe the scientific accuracy of the research will withstand closer
scrutiny.
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