The Grand Canyon

Illustration: The Grand Canyon, one of America's most spectacular
natural wonders.

 The Grand Canyon in northern Arizona is natures greatest sculpture. Up to 18 miles wide, a mile deep, and 280 miles long, this breathtaking gorge contains fantastically shaped peaks, buttes, and ravines. Equally spectacular are the canyon's colors. The overall red glow changes in hue depending on the time of day and the cloud cover. The many layers of rock sometimes glisten in the sun and make up a dazzeling rainbow of purples, pinks, greens, grays, and yellows.

The "sculptor" of the Grand Canyon is the winding Colorado River. It's rapid current sweeps tons of sand and gravel over the riverbed every minute, scraping and pounding as the grit tumbles downstream. Over the eons, the river has cut steadily downward, while volcanic and seismic forces have thrust the earth upward on either side. Amazingly, the rock layers exposed by the river reveal nearly 2 billion years of geological history.

More than 4 million visitors view the Grand Canyon each year. Some hike the Bright Angel Trail to the bottom of the canyon. Others decend by mule, or ride through on river rafts. Park headquarters and year-round campsites are found on the north brim. Because of heavy snow, the thickly forested North Rim is closed in the winter.

DID YOU KNOW....The land that is now the Grand Canyon once lay beneath the sea. As a result, fossil hunters can find the remains of prehistoric sea creatures in the canyon walls.

---

---

This site and its contents, text and graphics unless otherwise posted are copyright (c) 2002
G. Stevens/Design Unlimited - All Rights Reserved.
No part of this site may be distributed, reproduced or transmitted or posted
in any manner without the express written permission of the authors.

A Special Thanks To Groiler Books.

BACK