The Grand Canyon National Park is one of the oldest national parks in the United States. The canyon is located in Arizona. Until the moment when the first Europeans appeared here in 1540, the Pueblo Indians lived in the canyon. They lived in caves that were dug right into the canyon. But once the beauty of the landscapes of these places was appreciated by President Theodore Roosevelt, who loved to come here to hunt, and the Grand Canyon quickly became very popular.
According to toppharmacyschools, the name of the canyon is not accidental: it is indeed the largest canyon on the planet, its length of the canyon is almost 500 km, the width is 28 km, and the depth is 1.6 km. This canyon is not the deepest in the world, but obviously the most impressive in its landscape. The relief in the form in which we can observe it today began to form about 75 million years ago. Then the Colorado Plateau rose by about 3 km, a huge crevice formed, and 18 million years ago, the waters of the surrounding rivers began to flow into it. Over time, the soft rocks were washed away, and today the canyon (especially its bottom) is a structure of hard rocks, the destruction is very slow and will stretch for more than one million years.
Archaeologists still work on the territory of the canyon and often find fossils that are curious for science. As for living inhabitants, 355 species of birds, 89 mammals, 47 reptiles, 9 amphibians and 17 species of fish live here.
Climate of the Grand Canyon
The climate of the national park is complex and diverse, as it consists of several ecosystems. The lower level is close to the desert climate of Arizona with dry, hot summers. In the upper, wooded part of the canyon, snow falls in winter. The air temperature in summer reaches +37 °C, in winter -17 °C.
The southern part of the canyon is open all year round, 24 hours a day. Northern part – from May to October.
3 things to do in the Grand Canyon
- Capture a memorial sign on the camera, which is located on one of the paths leading to the observation deck and is adorned with the inscription: “Tribes that call the Grand Canyon their home: Apaches, Navajos, Zunis, etc.”
- Take a helicopter tour over the Canyon.
- Repeat the route of the Powell expedition, rafting on the fast waters of the Colorado River.
Canyon regions
The most popular region of the canyon is the South Rim. It is here that all observation platforms and other attractions are located. the most visited, here are popular observation platforms. In the southern part of the park, the reservations of the Havasupai and Walapai tribes have been preserved. Outsiders are treated with caution here, as they were thousands of years ago, but today the locals already feel safe and ready for guests.
The northern edge is less suitable for tourists. There are many hard-to-reach trails here, and in winter this part of the park is completely closed to the public. However, those who are not too lazy to get here are not disappointed: in the north of the canyon there is a very interesting flora, fauna, landscape, and even the climate is slightly different.
Attractions
Almost all the attractions of the Grand Canyon have poetic names: Vishnu Temple, Shiva Temple, Wotan’s Throne, etc. Above the river you can see the Bukan Stone – a black ash cone, as well as the Esplanade red sandstone terrace, which is especially beautiful in the rays of the sun at sunset.
North Canyon Bosch has very picturesque lakes at the foot of centuries-old stone walls. And from one of the most beautiful dams – Hoover Dam – offers an incredibly beautiful view of the largest man-made lake in the United States – Lake Mead. For the convenience of tourists, an observation deck has been specially built here.
Canyon travel
There are several ways to travel through the canyon: on foot (there are many convenient hiking trails in the park). The beauty of such a trip is that you can slowly enjoy the ever-changing landscapes. For example, the same place at dawn and in the evening after sunset can look completely different.
You can go rafting on the Colorado River. Well, the most curious and “cowboy” way is a horseback ride or a mule ride. The cost of such pleasure: from 45 USD per hour. There is also a train on which you can ride along the edge of the gorge, bike rental and car rental. For extreme people there is a small plane (a flight over the Grand Canyon will cost about 389 USD ) and a hot air balloon. The prices on the page are for June 2021.
Observation decks
On the territory of the Grand Canyon there are quite a few viewing platforms in different parts of the park. The most expensive of them is Skywalk. This is a huge platform with a transparent bottom, it costs 83 USD to visit it. Also popular among tourists is the Sky Path – a horseshoe-shaped glass bridge that hangs in the air at an altitude of 1219 m.
Practical Information
How to get there: planes to Las Vegas, from there by train to Flagstaff (about 330 km), and from Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon (another 100 km) there are buses and shuttles; however, given the not always convenient public transport schedule, experienced travelers recommend renting a car.
Entrance: for pedestrians and cyclists – from 20 USD, by car – 35 USD (for 7 days); visits to viewing platforms are paid separately.
