Structural control of the rapids and pools of the colorado river in the grand canyon.
Most of the major rapids along the 450-kilometer course of the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon are within fracture zones that run perpendicular to the river. Steep tributaries flowing within the zones of bedrock weakness move large debris to the Colorado, forming the rapids. Accelerated flow through the rapids scours the deep pools that are located below them.
Dolan
R
R
Howard
A
A
Trimble
D
D