Shiva Temple, Summit in Grand Canyon, United States.
Shiva Temple is a 7,646-foot peak in Grand Canyon that rises roughly 5,200 feet above the Colorado River, with a broad limestone summit covered in Ponderosa Pine forest. The plateau spreads across a significant area, creating an isolated forested landscape at its highest point.
The summit gained attention following a 1937 expedition by the American Museum of Natural History, where researchers discovered Ancestral Puebloan dwellings on the plateau. This exploration revealed that the isolated mountain had been inhabited and used by indigenous peoples in earlier times.
The name reflects a naming tradition established by geologist Clarence Dutton, who honored Hindu mythology when labeling Grand Canyon peaks. This practice shaped how visitors understand the landscape and its connection to world religions and cultures.
Reaching the summit requires technical climbing skills and careful preparation, as the route is challenging and physically demanding. No water sources exist on the plateau, so visitors must carry all supplies needed for their stay.
Scientists initially believed the geological isolation of the plateau since the Ice Age might have produced entirely unknown animal species found nowhere else. Investigations later showed that wildlife there was more typical of the region, though its geographical separation remained intriguing.
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