to not more than four hundred feet。
Maricopa and El Tovar Points。 El Tovar is six thousand eight hundred and sixty…six feet above sea level； the highest part of the point on the left is seven thousand and fifty feet； and on the right seven thousand feet。 The point to the left； Maricopa Point； is a portion of the great promontory known as Hopi Point； to which all Canyon visitors should go。 That to the right is El Tovar Point。
Heights and Depths。 The height of the lime and sandstone walls can readily be measured by looking down upon the rudely carved mass of red sandstone slightly to the left； which has been called the 〃Battleship。〃 The top of this is five thousand； eight hundred and sixty…seven feet above sea level。 Now look up to the Maricopa Point above； seven thousand and fifty feet。 The difference is one thousand； one hundred and eighty…three feet； which is practically the height of these two strata。
Bright Angel Creek。 Almost at the first glance； the attention is arrested by the break in the north wall； slightly to the right of where we stand； which makes a wide lateral gorge running at right angles to the main course of the river。 This is Bright Angel Gorge； showing the course of Bright Angel Creek； which flows between its lower walls。 It received its name from Major Powell； when he and his party descended the river。 Earlier in their explorations they had ascended a side stream； and one of the men had declared it to be a dirty devil of a river； and for many years it bore the name 〃Dirty Devil River；〃 until Powell changed it on the map to Fremont River。 When； later； this exquisitely pure and beautiful side stream was reached； the great explorer determined that as one stream had been named after the prince of the powers of darkness； he would name this after the bright and beautiful powers；hence the name 〃Bright Angel。〃
A reference to the chapter 〃How the Canyon was Formed；〃 will explain how this side gorge came into existence； and also account for the great upthrust of the granitic rock at its mouth； for the most casual observer cannot fail to note the presence of this rock much higher than it is seen elsewhere。
The North Wall。 Before paying particular attention to the vast forms that crowd the interior of the Canyon； let us follow the 〃build〃 of the massive wall on the north side。 This is part of the great Kaibab Plateau； the highest wall of the whole Canyon system。 Its elevation is eight thousand three hundred； as against six thousand eight hundred and sixty…six feet at El Tovar； and it is thirteen miles in an air line from the south rim； where the hotel is located； to the north rim。
The reason for this difference in elevation is explained in the chapter 〃How the Canyon was Formed。〃 In brief； it is that； during a process of 〃 faulting；〃 the north wall was thrust up above the level of the south wall。
Features above Bright Angel Creek。 In any other region but here； this Bright Angel Gorge and the massive figures of rock that sentinel and guard it would be regarded as a scenic marvel； but here it is a mere trivial incident in the greater scenery of the greater Canyon。 Yet it is well to note the massive red sandstone points that are lined up on either side on the plateau； above the darkest recesses of the gorge； reminding one of the rows of sphinxes that guard the entrances of some of the Egyptian temples。
Up Bright Angel Creek。 Occasionally parties cross the river （either by boat or in an iron cage suspended by a cable）； and ascend to the north rim by means of a rude trail up Bright Angel Creek。 As the trail for a part of the way ascends the floor of the gorge； down which the stream flows； and as it is exceedingly narrow and without any way of escape in case of severe rain or flood； it is not always safe。 To one； however； who loves a rough and adventurous trip； the ascent of this gorge will probably give great satisfaction。 A little more than a third of the way up； a waterfall is passed； called 〃Ribbon Falls。〃 The trail winds and twists with the course of the stream； and finally reaches the summit at an elevation of eight thousand five hundred feet； not far from Greenland Spring。 From here one may go east over the Walhalla Plateau to Niji Point； and overlook the Chuar Valley at the mouth of Marble Canyon； where Dr。 Walcott spent a winter studying the Algonkian strata of that region。 To the west is Point Sublime； Powell Plateau； and other scenery of an unusually majestic character。
Features of the North Wall。 But let us now return to the main north wall before us。 The green tufts； that at this distance appear as grass or shrubs； partially covering the top of the wall and descending the slopes into the Canyon； are in reality great trees； mainly pines and black birches； from twenty…five to over one hundred and one hundred and fifty feet in height。 The forest that covers the Kaibab Plateau contains many majestic trees； and some of these have wandered over the rim to peep into the depths of the abyss below。 The cherty limestone strata are thus largely covered； but the next stratum is the clear band of cross…bedded sandstone； which corresponds to the second member of the geological series seen in the arm of the amphitheatre at Maricopa Point； and is from five hundred to six hundred feet wide。
Then the eye rests upon slopes of talus； which reach down to the red strata of varying thicknesses； which are deposited above the red…wall limestone； the widest member of the whole Canyon group。 These walls are cut and recessed into all kinds of shapes and forms； angles； promontories and recesses； which； especially in the early morning and late afternoon； cast shadows of inexpressible beauty。
The Red…Wall Limestone。 We now come to the red…wall limestone nearly six hundred feet in thickness。 What a striking； massive wall it is； and how impressive； when seen even at this immense distance。 This wall is red only because it is stained by the color washed down by the rain from the red strata above。 In reality； it is a rich creamy lime； but only where the red strata above have been degraded and washed away does the natural color of this wall appear。
The Plateau。 Below the red…wall limestone； there are several strata of red and gray and olive rocks that slope to the plateau。 This plateau is not quite so wide on the north side as on the south； owing to El Tovar being located in the recess of a great amphitheatre。 It is from these plateaus that the finest views of the real Canyon can be obtained。 The visitor； sitting on the porch or on the rim at El Tovar； cannot realize that below his feet； as it were； there is an almost exact duplication of the wall and slopes of talus； the thrilling precipices； the alcoves； recesses； promontories and the like； that he sees on the north side。 And yet a trip down the trail on to the plateaus reveals these stupendous facts in a manner that is surprising even to those who； for years； have been familiar with them。 How much more； then； is such an experience to a tyro。 I have met men who were world…wide travelers； and who were visiting the Canyon for the first time； some of these were expert geologists； yet they refused to go down the trail； with the excuse that they could fully grasp the scenery from the rim。 But that is impossible。 The human mind cannot realize the effects of vastness and power this Canyon scenery produces； except when one stands below the cliffs and looks up。 And where the opportunity is given of looking both up to towering walls； and down over beetling precipices； the effect is enhanced。
The Tonto Sandstones。 Below the plateau； slight slopes lead the eye to the last of the stratified rocks； the Tonto sandstones of the Cambrian period。 These are readily distinguished； mainly by their deep buff color and the fact that generally they are found resting on the archaean or unstratified rocks； locally though incorrectly termed the granite； which makes the Inner Gorge through which the river runs。 This 〃granite〃 is in the main a blackish gneiss。
The Algonkian Strata。 Though the Tonto sandstones usually occupy the location named； there is a deviation from this in the presence of some remnants of strata of the Algonkian period； directly opposite El Tovar。 This deviation is discussed in the chapter 〃How the Canyon was Formed。〃 These remarkable rocks occur to the left （west） of Bright Angel Creek； and lie immediately above the gneiss。 Their brilliant red reveals them； and they can be followed up under the base of the Cheops and to a small wash to the left of Osiris。 At the mouth of Bright Angel； they rest upon the archaean； with the Tonto sandstones above them； but just in front of the Battleship a break in the gneiss occurs； and on the portion nearest us the Algonkian strata totally disappear； for the Tonto strata rest directly upon the gneiss。
Zoroaster； Brahma and Deva Temples。 Now； in turn； let the eye rest upon the temples； towers and buttes that stand in the heart of the Canyon； more or less detached from the main wall。 To the right of Bright Angel Creek； striking buttes keep guard。 The nearest is an angular mass of solid； unrelieved rock； sloping in a peculiarly oblique fashion。 It is Zoroaster Temple； seven thousand one hundred and thirty…six feet in elevation。 Close behind it is a more ornate and dignified mass； Brahma Temple； named after the first of the Hindoo triad； the supreme creator； to correspond with the Shiva Temple； soon to be described； on the right。 Shiva； the destroyer； Brahma； the creator。 The one controlling the forces that have destroyed the strata； the other dominating the powers that have brought these structures into existence。 Brahma is seven thousand five hundred and fifty…four feet in elevation。 Behind Brahma is another butte； which； however； cannot always be dissevered from the main wall。 It has no cap of cherty limestone。 It can be readily discerned； therefore； by its flat…topped appearance。 It is Deva Temple； seven thousand three hundred and forty…four feet above sea level。
Buddha Temple and Cloister； Manu Temple。 To the left of the Bright Angel Gorge； quite an assemblage of buttes awaits inspection。 The dominating pile almost opposite Brahmaacross Bright Angelis Buddha Temple； and below it is Buddha Cloister。 Beyond this is another butte； which； h