Facts About The Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon is not only a national landmark, it's a national park as well. It is located in the state of Arizona and reaches to Colorado. One of the most fascinating facts about the Grand Canyon is that it was made over a period of millions of years. The sedimentary layers of rock were cut by the flowing Colorado River and its connected tributaries. During the ice age periods the cutting of the canyon become even more dramatic due to the increase in water flow caused by massive ice thawing. The majority of the Grand Canyon is located within Grand Canyon National Park.


Tourists come from all around the world just to see the Grand Canyon. This natural wonder spans 18 miles at its widest point and is 277 miles long. It is approximately one mile in depth. If you want to travel to the bottom of the Canyon on foot, horseback or camel it will take you approximately two days to get there. One might think that the Grand Canyon is the biggest canyon in the world, but it is not. Both Hell's Canyon located in Idaho and Barranca de Cabre in Mexico are deeper than the Grand Canyon. The reason the Grand Canyon is more famous is because of its incredible length, width and beauty.

During prehistoric times Native Americans settled in the caves of the Canyon. The first European to see the Grand Canyon was a Spanish explorer named Garcia Lopez de Cardenas who reached the canyon in 1540. It remained largely uncharted until after the Civil War, when veteran Major John Wesley Powell set out on a canoe trek with a party of nine. Six of the men who accompanied Powell completed the journey. Powell described the layers of rock as leaves in a great storybook, as they tell the story of millions of years of geological development.

There are more fascinating facts about the Grand Canyon that may be of interest if you're planning to visit this landmark. For example, animal lovers will be happy to learn the canyon is home to 88 different types of mammals, 28 different types of reptiles and around 300 different types of birds. Plant life in the canyon is even more incredible, with 1,500 different plant species found there. There are plenty of ways to explore the canyon, including boat, helicopter and of course on foot. Even if you don't explore the canyon you can still enjoy amazing beauty from afar as it is a breathtaking sight to behold from any angle.

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