Grand Canyon – Arizona, USA
The Grand Canyon is one of the best-known natural landmarks
in the world, and is considered one of the seven natural wonders of the
world. Technically speaking, it is a
steep-sided gorge caused by the carving effects of the Colorado River in
northern Arizona. Due to rich deposits
of minerals that are susceptible to rusting, the sands and rocks are brightly
colored in reds, browns, and oranges.
The canyon is part of the larger Grand Canyon National Park,
which was one of the first national parks designated by Theodore
Roosevelt. Of course, the biggest
feature of the park (quite literally) is the canyon. It stretches 277 miles and varies between 4 to 18 miles in
width. The deepest portions of the canyon
are a mile from ground level.
As a natural geographic feature, the Grand Canyon is the result
of the strong currents of the Colorado River.
For some hundreds of millions of years, the river has slowly cut its way
downward. It’s so far down, in fact,
that the rapids down below appear to be stationary. Geologists love the Grand Canyon since its sides expose a large
portion of the Earth’s history through sedimentary layers. The combined action of the river cutting downward
and the gradual rise of the adjacent plateaus have created one of the most
breathtaking visuals you can experience in America.
The first recorded discovery of the Grand Canyon by European
explorers was by Garcia Lopez de Cardenas of Spain in 1540. It wasn’t until 1870 that the first
scientific expedition led by US Major John Powell unveiled the rich geological
history of the canyon.
Though the Grand Canyon existed well before the first human
inhabitants, it has repeatedly been the site for some for human settlement
dating back 3,000 years. A primitive
desert culture has left behind numerous animal sketches and other
artifacts. The next known inhabitants
of the region were the Ancestral Puebloans who were expert basket makers and occupied
a small portion of the region. Numerous
other peoples have lived, worked, and played here throughout the ages.
Sightseeing
Visiting the Grand Canyon is easy enough. The Interstate system in Northern Arizona
leads inevitably to this massive natural landmark. Casual observers can peer over the ledges at an average height of
7,000 feet above sea level. Below,
there is a popular hiking and whitewater rafting culture. While it’s possible to work your way down by
hiking and mule backing from the top, most people get there by floating
downriver and descending into the canyon.
For the more upscale experience, you can hire a helicopter pilot to take
you through the canyon!
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