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2021 Map of Fossil Bay

Name: 2021 Topographic Map of Fossil Bay
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2021
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2021

About this map

The Middle Granite Gorge cuts through this high desert terrain, marking a dramatic descent from the surrounding plateaus into the heart of Grand Canyon National Park. The landscape is defined by vast, tiered landforms such as Great Thumb Mesa and Olo Mesa, which are separated by deep, intricate drainages including Olo Canyon and Fossil Canyon. These features illustrate the erosion patterns of the Colorado River watershed, where high points like Kangaroo Headland and Stanton Point offer overlooks of the rugged canyon system.

Accessibility in this remote section of the canyon is primarily via the Colorado River Trl, which skirts the waterway through the gorge. The map details numerous smaller geographic features like Specter Chasm and Fossil Bay, providing an essential guide for those tracing the geological history or early exploration routes of the Inner Canyon. Named terraces such as Gatagama Terrace and Panameta Terrace reveal the complex, stair-step topography unique to this region.