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Arches National Park
Environmental Factors
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NPS Photo by Neal Herbert |
The roots of a blackbrush exposed by soil erosion |
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Although Arches may appear harsh and unchanging, the desert ecosystem is continually evolving. Weather, climatic shifts and geologic processes continue to shape this environment as they have for millennia.
More recently, human-caused factors such as air, noise and water pollution, as well as introduced species, have had a much greater impact on natural resources world-wide.
The undeveloped landscape of Arches provides an ideal place to study how various environmental factors affect desert ecosystems, and predict what changes might be expected in the future.
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| ![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090117032338im_/http://www.nps.gov/commonspot/images/clear.gif) | ![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090117032338im_/http://www.nps.gov/commonspot/images/clear.gif) |
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![Courthouse Wash Courthouse Wash](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090117032338im_/http://www.nps.gov/imr/customcf/apps/CMS_HandF/Pictures/ARCH_CourthouseWash.jpg) Tamarisk This exotic has invaded the Colorado River and all its tributaries more... | | ![Cheatgrass Cheatgrass](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090117032338im_/http://www.nps.gov/imr/customcf/apps/CMS_HandF/Pictures/ARCH_Cheetgrass.jpg) Cheatgrass Transforming landscapes throughout the American west more... | |
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![Desert Bighorn Sheep Desert Bighorn Sheep](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090117032338im_/http://www.nps.gov/imr/customcf/apps/CMS_HandF/Pictures/ARCH_BighornSheep2.jpg) |
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Did You Know?
Once feared of becoming extinct, desert bighorn sheep are making a tentative comeback in southeast Utah due to reintroduction efforts by the National Park Service. There are roughly 75 sheep in Arches, and animals are often sighted near the visitor center.
more...
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Last Updated: July 25, 2006 at 00:23 EST |