Biogeographic Regions of Arizona
Colorado Plateau Region
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Biogeographic Regions of ArizonaColorado Plateau Region |
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The southern edge of the vast Colorado Plateau lies in northern
Arizona. The plateau, an exceptionally scenic region of
colorful rock, remote, isolated canyons, and sweeping vistas,
covers
portions of four states; Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona.
Prominent
landmarks of this region here in Arizona include the beautiful
San Francisco
Peaks near Flagstaff, Monument
Valley and the Painted Desert on the Navajo Reservation, and of
course the spectacular Grand
Canyon of the Colorado River in Grand Canyon National Park.
Much of this predominantly arid region is vegetated by
desert shrubs and grasses or woodlands of pinyon pine and
juniper.
Ponderosa pine and mixed-conifer forests
cover the higher areas
of the plateau generally above 7000 feet,
including the San Francisco Peaks, the Kaibab Plateau, and the
Chuska Mountains.
These biotic communities and their associated wildlife can be found in the Colorado Plateau Region. Alpine Tundra, Subalpine Spruce-Fir Forest, Montane Mixed-Conifer Forest, Montane Ponderosa Pine Forest, Pinyon Pine-Juniper Woodland, Grasslands, Great Basin Desertscrub, Mojave Desertscrub and Northern Arizona Riparian Woodland.
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