PLATEAUS

Plateaus By: Danielle Bernat Do you know what a plateau (pla-tow) is? A plateau is a flat piece of raised land. Plateaus are formed by erupting volcanoes or forces in the ground that push towards the sun. Have you ever heard of the Painted Desert? Well, the Painted Desert is a large plateau that extends about 200 miles and is along the Colorado River in North-Central Arizona. The Painted Desert was formed by wind and water cutting into ash from volcanoes. This is called erosion. Do you know why they call this plateau the Painted Desert? It’s because of the colors that appear on the ground. This happens because heat, light, and dust can change the colors. The colors that appear could be: blue, amethyst, yellow, russet, lilac, and red. Plateaus are a beautiful place to visit. The Painted Desert is one of Mother Nature’s greatest creations!