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The South Rim of Grand Canyon lies on the edge of a high plateau whose gray-green forests stand out in sharp contrast to the arid lands below the rim. From here the cliffs drop 5,000 feet / 1,524 m to the Colorado River, crossing several biotic zones in the process. It is a landscape characterized by abundant sunshine, extremes of temperature, and long periods of drought punctuated by torrential downpours in summer and snow in winter. The soil is thin; bedrock lies just a few inches below the surface. The competition for moisture in this dry land is keen.
On the rim at elevations above 7,000 feet / 2,134 m, ponderosa pine is the dominant tree in the forest. Below 7,000 feet / 2,134 m, pinyon pine and Utah juniper are the dominant trees. Gambel oak is another common member of the forest. The trees are interspersed with drought-resistant shrubs like cliffrose, fernbush, and serviceberry. Warm, sunny areas along the rim may be home to desert plants like banana yucca and claretcup cactus.
Below the rim, it's another world. The temperature within the inner canyon can be as much as 30°F / 18°C higher than temperatures on the rim. Summertime highs along the Colorado River can reach 120°F / 49°C. Much of the inner canyon is considered desert, excluding the areas along the river and tributary streams which have rich riparian (streamside) habitat. Much of the vegetation in the inner canyon is typical of that found in deserts to the south: cacti and drought-resistant shrubs. Riparian plants include thickets of willow and tamarisk.
Desert cacti grow at the river level while Delphinium, white thistle, poppy and scarlet bugle grow in the dry regions. Prickly pears and pincushion cacti grow beneath the blue spruce and Douglas fir on the rim.
