Kaibab Plateau

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Kaibab Plateau from space
Kaibab Plateau from space

The Kaibab Plateau is located in northern Arizona in the United States. The plateau, part of the larger Colorado Plateau, is bordered on the south by the Grand Canyon and reaches an elevation of 9,241 feet (2,817 m) above sea level. The Plateau is divided between Kaibab National Forest and the "North Rim" portion of Grand Canyon National Park. The broad feature is heavily forested with aspen, spruce-fir, ponderosa pine, and pinon-juniper forest, and stands in sharp contrast to the arid lowlands encircling it. Tributary canyons of the Colorado River form the plateau's eastern and western boundaries, and tiers of uplifted cliffs define the northern edges of the landform.

View from the Kaibab Plateau of the Vermillion Cliffs.
View from the Kaibab Plateau of the Vermillion Cliffs.

The cool forests of the plateau are home to the Kaibab Squirrel, which is endemic to the area. Winter snowfall is often heavy (sometimes exceeding 200 inches), and this creates good backcountry nordic skiing and snow camping opportunities. Kaibab Plateau

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