Grand Canyon of the Colorado River essay

The main aim of this paper is to present a description of a photo created by William Bell in 1872. The photo is Grand Cañon of the Colorado River, Mouth of Kanab Wash, Looking West.

First of all it is important to mention that the photo has a historical meaning, because it presents a true view of Grand Canyon more than one hundred years ago. The picture was taken during the U.S. Geographical and Geological Explorations and Surveys West of the 100th Meridian. It shows its viewers not only amazing landscapes of Grand Canyon, but also gives specialists an opportunity to analyze geological and other features of the western territory of the United States. To make such pictures is a right step in all kinds of expeditions, because visual images always look better than ordinary word descriptions of the territories.

Looking at the photo we see a man, who sits on a rock above Kanab Creek in a valley. It is not understandable what the man is doing there, but it is possible to suppose that he holds probably a pad of paper in his hands, and is writing or drawing something on it. The man wears a coat, hat and boots, and looks as a member of the expedition, who explores specific details of those vast and unexplored territories. In addition, the picture is a kind of gold-toned albumen prints, and these characteristics made it more valuable for our times. The color of the picture makes some peculiarities of the erosion more visible and clear. It is impossible to overestimate the significance of the picture because the panoramic view of Grand Canyon makes people to admire all the beauty created by the nature, and to feel the atmosphere of those times.

Thus, we have described the photo created by William Bell, and proved its historical and geographical significance.