Jump to content

Grand Canyon: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m Reverted edits by 68.236.255.158 (talk) to last version by Pax85
this is the real history about the grand canyon
Line 1: Line 1:
Chuck Norris Made the Grand Canyon with his bare hands and his poop
{{portal|Arizona}}
<!--Prior to adding your picture to this article, please see the discussion on the talk page-->
{{otheruses4|the canyon in the southwestern United States|other Grand Canyons|Grand Canyon (disambiguation)}}
The '''Grand Canyon''' is a steep-sided [[gorge]] carved by the [[Colorado River]] in the [[United States|U.S.]] state of [[Arizona]], and parts of [[Nevada]]. It is largely contained within the [[Grand Canyon National Park]] &mdash; one of the first [[national parks]] in the United States. President [[Theodore Roosevelt]] was a major proponent of preservation of the Grand Canyon area, and visited on numerous occasions to hunt and enjoy the scenery.

[[Image:USA 09847 Grand Canyon Luca Galuzzi 2007.jpg|thumb|350px|View from the South Rim.]]
Longstanding scientific consensus has been that the canyon was created by the [[Colorado River]] over a period of six million years, but research released in 2008 suggests a much longer 17 million year time span.<ref name=17million> [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/07/science/07canyon.html?ref=us New York Times] article ''Grand Canyon Still Grand but Older'' published March 7, 2008 based on research by Victor Polyak, Carol Hill, and Yemane Asmerom, Science, Vol 319, 7 March 2008, pages 1377-1380.</ref> The canyon is 277 miles (446 km) long, ranges in width from 4 to 18 miles (6.4 to 29 km) and attains a depth of more than a mile (1.6 km). Nearly two billion years of the [[Earth]]'s history have been exposed as the Colorado River and its tributaries cut their [[channel (geography)|channel]]s through layer after layer of rock while the [[Colorado Plateau]] was [[Tectonic uplift|uplifted]]. The "canyon started from the west, then another formed from the east, and the two broke through and met as a single majestic rent in the earth some six million years ago. [...] The merger apparently occurred where the river today, coming from the north, bends to the west, in the area known as the [[Kaibab Arch]]."<ref name=17million/>

Prior to the European invasion, the area was inhabited by [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]] who built settlements within the canyon and its many caves. The [[Puebloan peoples|Pueblo people]] considered the Grand Canyon ("Ongtupqa" in [[Hopi language]]) a holy site and made pilgrimages to it.{{Fact|date=November 2007}} The first [[Europe]]an known to have viewed the Grand Canyon was [[Garcia Lopez de Cardenas|García López de Cárdenas]] from [[Spain]], who arrived in 1540.<ref>[http://www.media.utah.edu/UHE/c/COLORADOPLATEU.html History of the Colorado Plateau]</ref> In 1869, [[John Wesley Powell|Major John Wesley Powell]], a one-armed [[American Civil War|Civil War]] veteran with a thirst for science and adventure, made the first recorded journey through the canyon on the Colorado River. Powell referred to the [[sedimentary rock]] units exposed in the canyon as "leaves in a great story book".{{Fact|date=April 2008}}

==Geography==
{{wide image|NAVAJO POINT.jpg|1040px| View from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon at Navajo Point}}

The Grand Canyon is a massive rift in the [[Colorado Plateau]] that exposes uplifted [[Proterozoic]] and [[Paleozoic]] strata and is also one of the six distinct physiographic sections of the Colorado Plateau province. The Grand Canyon is unmatched throughout the world for the vistas it offers to visitors on the rim. It is not the deepest canyon in the world — [[Cotahuasi Canyon]] (11598 feet or 3535 m) and [[Colca Canyon]] (10499 feet or 3200 m), both in [[Arequipa]], [[Peru]], and [[Hell's Canyon]] (7,993 feet or2436 m) on the Oregon-Idaho border, are all deeper — but Grand Canyon is known for its overwhelming size and its intricate and colorful landscape. Geologically it is significant because of the thick sequence of ancient rocks that are beautifully preserved and exposed in the walls of the canyon. These rock layers record much of the early geologic history of the North American continent.

<!-- Commented out because image was deleted: [[Image:Canyon on Fire.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Eastern Grand Canyon, 2007.]] -->
[[Image:CASTLES.jpg|right|thumb|350px| Temples, Castles, and Shrines.]]

Uplift associated with [[mountain]] building events later moved these sediments thousands of feet upward and created the Colorado Plateau. The higher [[elevation]] has also resulted in greater [[Precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]] in the Colorado River drainage area, but not enough to change the Grand Canyon area from being semi-arid. The uplift of the [[Colorado Plateau]] is uneven, and the north-south trending [[Kaibab Plateau]] that Grand Canyon bisects is over a thousand feet higher at the North Rim (about 1,000&nbsp;ft/300&nbsp;m) than at the South Rim. The fact that the Colorado River flows in a curve around the higher North Rim part of the Kaibab Plateau and closer to the South Rim part of the plateau is also explained by this asymmetry. Ivo Lucchitta of the U.S. Geological Survey first suggested that, as the Colorado River developed before significant erosion of the region, it naturally found its way across or around the Kaibab Uplift by following a "racetrack" path to the south of the highest part of the plateau. Almost all runoff from the North Rim (which also gets more [[rain]] and [[snow]]) flows toward the Grand Canyon, while much of the runoff on the plateau behind the South Rim flows away from the canyon (following the general tilt). The result is deeper and longer tributary washes and canyons on the north side and shorter and steeper side canyons on the south side.

[[Temperatures]] on the North Rim are generally lower than the South Rim because of the greater elevation (averaging 8,000&nbsp;ft/2,438&nbsp;m above sea level).<ref>{{cite web | title=Nature & Science | url=http://www.nps.gov/grca/naturescience/index.htm | publisher=National Park Service | date=January 2007 | accessdate=2007-03-29}}</ref> Heavy rains are common on both rims during the summer months. Access to the North Rim via the primary route leading to the canyon ([[Arizona State Route 67|State Route 67]]) is limited during the winter season due to road closures. Views from the North Rim tend to give a better impression of the expanse of the canyon than those from the South Rim.

==Geology==
{{main|Geology of the Grand Canyon area}}
[[Image:Grandcanyon1972.01.jpg|thumb|right|330px|A sunset on Grand Canyon]]
The principal consensus among geologists is that the Colorado River basin (of which the Grand Canyon is a part) has developed in the past 40 million years. A recent study places the origins of the canyon beginning some 17 million years ago. Previous estimates had placed the age of the canyon at 5 to 6 million years. The study, which was published in 2008 in the journal [[Science (journal)|Science]] utilized [[uranium-lead dating]] to analyze [[calcite]] deposits found on the walls of nine caves throughout the canyon. <ref name="UNM Study">
{{cite web
| last =Wilford
| first =John
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title = Study Says Grand Canyon Older Than Thought
| work =
| publisher =[[New York Times]]
| date = 2008-02-06
| url = http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/06/science/06cnd-canyon.html?_r=2&hp&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate = 2008-02-06}}
</ref> There is a substantial amount of controversy because this research suggests a such substantial departure from prior widely supported scientific consensus.<ref name=17million_controversy> [http://www.sciencefriday.com/program/archives/200803073 Science Friday] interview ''How Old is the Grand Canyon?'' (broadcast Friday, March 7th, 2008)</ref>

The result of all this [[erosion]] is one of the most complete geologic columns on the planet.

[[Image:AC14 4x5.jpg|right|thumb|350px|The Grand Canyon from Moran Point.]]
The major geologic exposures in Grand Canyon range in age from the 2 billion year old Vishnu Schist at the bottom of the Inner Gorge to the 230 million year old Kaibab Limestone on the Rim. Interestingly, there is a gap of about one billion years between the stratum that is about 500 million years old and the lower level, which is about 1.5 billion years old. That indicates a period of erosion between two periods of deposition.

Many of the [[formation (geology)|formations]] were deposited in warm shallow seas, near-shore environments (such as [[beach]]es), and [[swamp]]s as the seashore repeatedly advanced and retreated over the edge of a proto-[[North America]]. Major exceptions include the Permian [[Coconino Sandstone]], which most geologists interpret as an [[aeolian]] [[sand dune]] deposit and several parts of the Supai Group.

The great depth of the Grand Canyon and especially the height of its strata (most of which formed below [[sea level]]) can be attributed to 5,000 to 10,000 feet (1500 to 3000 m) of uplift of the Colorado Plateau, starting about 65 million years ago (during the [[Laramide orogeny|Laramide Orogeny]]). This uplift has steepened the [[stream gradient]] of the Colorado River and its tributaries, which in turn has increased their speed and thus their ability to cut through rock (see the [[Colorado River#Elevation Summary|elevation summary]] of the Colorado River for present conditions).

Weather conditions during the [[ice age]]s also increased the amount of water in the Colorado River drainage system. The ancestral Colorado River responded by cutting its channel faster and deeper.

The base level and course of the Colorado River (or its ancestral equivalent) changed 5.3 million years ago when the [[Gulf of California]] opened and lowered the river's [[base level]] (its lowest point). This increased the rate of erosion and cut nearly all of the Grand Canyon's current depth by 1.2 million years ago. The terraced walls of the canyon were created by differential erosion.<ref>[http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/geology/leveson/core/graphics/nyc_mins2/hyp_test_diff_erode.html Definition and examples of differential erosion]</ref>

About one million years ago, [[volcano|volcanic]] activity (mostly near the western canyon area) deposited [[volcanic ash|ash]] and [[lava]] over the area, which at times completely obstructed the river. These volcanic rocks are the youngest in the canyon.

==Human history==
{{main|History of the Grand Canyon area}}

[[Image:GrandCanyonColoradoRiver.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A view of the [[Colorado River]] flowing through the Grand Canyon.]]
====The Ancestral Puebloans (The Ancient Ones, or Anasazi)====
*The Basketmakers
*The Pueblo [[Anasazi#Anasazi as a cultural label|Anasazi]]
*Ancient Puebloan Occupation of the Grand Canyon
**Nankoweap Canyon
**The Unkar Delta (see [[Geology of the Grand Canyon area]])
**The [[Bright Angel Trail|Bright Angel]] site
*[[Ancient Pueblo Peoples]] leave the Canyon
**Beamer's Cabin
***The Beamers Back Window
[[Image:Canyon midday.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The Grand Canyon, as seen from river-level.]]
[[Image:GrandCanyonAerialViewByPhilKonstantin.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The Grand Canyon, as seen from an aeroplane.]]
[[Image:EagleRock.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Eagle Rock (located at Eagle Point) on the west rim, aptly named for its shape, is considered sacred by the Hualapai Indians.]]

====Other cultures====
*The Cohonina<ref>
{{ cite web
| title = Kaibab National Forest
| publisher = USDA Forest Service
| url = http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/kai/recreation/historic/tusayan.shtml
| accessdate = 2007-01-04}}</ref>
*The [[Sinagua]]
*The [[Pai (indian)|Pai]] (The People)
*The [[Hualapai]] (The People of the Pine Trees)
*The [[Havasupai]] (The People of the blue-green water)
*The [[Paiute]]s (The Water People)
*The [[Navajo Nation|Dineh]] (The People)

===European arrival and settlement===
====The Spanish explorers====
In September 1540, under orders from the [[conquistador]] [[Francisco Vázquez de Coronado]] to search for the fabled [[Seven Cities of Cibola]], Captain [[Garcia Lopez de Cardenas]], along with [[Hopi]] guides and a small group of Spanish soldiers, traveled to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon between Desert View and Moran Point. [[Pablo de Melgrossa]], [[Juan Galeras]], and a third soldier descended some one third of the way into the Canyon until they were forced to return because of lack of water. In their report, they noted that some of the rocks in the Canyon were "bigger than the great tower of Seville."<ref name="greatabyss">{{cite book | author=Page Stegner |title=Grand Canyon, The Great Abyss|date= 1994|publisher= HarperCollins|isbn=0-06-258564-9| pages=25}} </ref> It is speculated that their Hopi guides must have been reluctant to lead them to the river, since they must have known routes to the canyon floor. Afterwards, no Europeans visited the Canyon for over two hundred years.

Fathers [[Francisco Atanasio Domínguez]] and [[Silvestre Vélez de Escalante]] were two Spanish Priests who, with a group of Spanish soldiers, explored southern [[Utah]] and traveled along the North Rim of the Canyon in Glen and Marble Canyons in search of a route from [[Santa Fe, New Mexico|Santa Fe]] to [[California]] in 1776. They eventually found a crossing at present-day [[Lees Ferry]].

Also in 1776, Fray Francisco Garces, a Franciscan missionary, spent a week near Havasupai, unsuccessfully attempting to convert a band of Indians. He described the Canyon as "profound".<ref name="greatabyss">

====American exploration====
James Ohio Pattie, along with a group of American trappers and mountain men, was probably the next European to reach the Canyon in 1826, although there is little documentation to support this.<ref>[http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/publications/journals/shq/online/v026/n4/contrib_DIVL2994.html New light on Pattie and the southwestern fur trade]</ref>
<!--[[Image:Stamp-ctc-grand-canyon-national-park.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The United States government made the Grand Canyon a national park in 1919]]-->
[[Jacob Hamblin]] (a [[Mormon]] missionary) was sent by [[Brigham Young]] in the 1850s to locate easy river crossing sites in the Canyon. Building good relations with local [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]] and white settlers, he discovered [[Lee's Ferry]] in 1858 and [[Pierce Ferry]] (later operated by, and named for, [[Harrison Pierce]]) - the only two sites suitable for ferry operation.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} He also acted as an advisor to [[John Wesley Powell]] before his second expedition to the Grand Canyon, acting as a diplomat between Powell and the local native tribes to ensure the safety of his party.

In 1857 [[Edward Fitzgerald Beale]] superintendent of an expedition to survey a wagon road along the 35th parallel from Fort Defiance to the Colorado river led a small party of men in search of water on the Coconino plateau on the south rim of the Grand Canyon. On September 19th near present day National Canyon they came upon what May Humphreys Stacey described in his journal as "...a wonderful canyon four thousand feet deep. Everyone (in the party) admitted that he never before saw anything to match or equal this astonishing natural curiosity."

Also in 1857, the U.S. [[United States Department of War|War Department]] asked [[Lieutenant Joseph Ives]] to lead an expedition to assess the feasibility of an up-river navigation from the Gulf of California. Also in a stern wheeler steamboat "Explorer", after two months and 350 miles (560&nbsp;km) of difficult navigation, his party reached Black Canyon some two months after George Johnson.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} The "Explorer" struck a rock and was abandoned. Ives led his party east into the Canyon — they were the first Europeans to travel the Diamond Creek drainage and traveled eastwards along the South Rim.

In 1858, [[John Strong Newberry]] became probably the first geologist to visit the Grand Canyon.

*The [[John Wesley Powell]] River Expeditions
*The Brown-Stanton River Expedition
*Other expeditions

====Settlers in and near the canyon====
*Miners: "Captain" [[John Hance]], [[William W. Bass]], [[Louis Boucher]] "The Hermit", [[Seth Tanner]], [[Charles Spencer]], [[D. W. Mooney|D. W. "James" Mooney]]
*Lees Ferry: [[John Doyle Lee]], [[Emma Lee]] (17th of John Lee's 19 wives), [[J. S. Emmett]], [[Charles Spencer]]
*Phantom Ranch: [[David Rust]], [[Mary Colter]]
*Grand Canyon Village: [[Ralph H. Cameron]]

====Federal protection====
The federal government administrators who manage park resources face many challenges. These include issues related to the recent reintroduction into the wild of the highly endangered [[California Condor]], air tour overflight noise levels, water rights disputes with various tribal reservations that border the park, and forest fire management. The Grand Canyon National Park superintendent is Steve Martin. Martin was named superintendent on February 5, 2007 to replace retiring superintendent Joe Alston. Martin was previously the National Park Service Deputy Director and superintendent of several other national parks including [[Denali National Park|Denali]] and [[Grand Teton National Park|Grand Teton]].<ref>
{{ cite web
| title = Steve Martin named Superintendent of Grand Canyon National Park
| publisher = National Park Service
| url = http://www.nps.gov/grca/parknews/upload/2.5.07%20GRCA-Martin-%20IMR.pdf
| format = PDF
| accessdate = 2007-02-20}}</ref>

==South Rim buildings==
There are several historical buildings located along the South Rim; most are in [[Grand Canyon Village]].
[[Image:Yavapai Observation Station.jpg|thumb|[[Desert View Watchtower]] in 2004|200px|right]]
'''Buckey O'Neill Cabin''' was built during the 1890s by William Owen O'Neill. He built the cabin because of a copper deposit that was nearby. He had several occupations such as miner, judge, politician, author and tour guide. This cabin is the longest continually standing structure in the South Rim. It is currently used as a guest house; booking is required well in advance.

'''Kolb Studio''' was built in 1904 by brothers Ellsworth and Emery Kolb. They were photographers who made a living by photographing visitors walking down the [[Bright Angel Trail]]. In 1911, the Kolb brothers filmed their journey down the [[Green River|Green]] and [[Colorado River]]s. Emery Kolb showed this movie regularly in his studio until 1976, when he died at the age of 95. Today the building serves as an art gallery and exhibit.

The '''[[El Tovar Hotel]]''' was built in 1905 and is the most luxurious lodging on the South Rim. The hotel consists of 4 stories with a rustic chalet appearance. It was designed by Charles Whittlesley. A gift shop and restaurant are located inside the hotel.

'''Hopi House''' was built by Mary Jane Colter in 1905. It is based on structures that were built in an ancient Hopi settlement called Old [[Oraibi]], located on the Third Mesa in eastern Arizona. It served as a residence for the Hopi Indians who sold arts and crafts to visitors in the South Rim.

'''Verkamp's Curios''' was built by [[John Verkamp]] in 1905. He sold arts and crafts as well as souvenirs. It is currently run by his descendants and stands next to the Hopi House.

'''Grand Canyon Railway Depot''' was built in 1909 and contains 2 levels. It is one of only three log-cabin-style train stations currently standing in the United States, of the fourteen ever built in the U.S. The depot is the northern terminus of the [[Grand Canyon Railway]] which begins in [[Williams, Arizona]].

'''[[Lookout Studio]]''' was built in 1914 and is another structure that was designed by Mary Colter. Photography artwork, books, souvenirs, and rock and fossil specimens are sold here. A great view of Bright Angel Trail can be seen here.

'''[[Desert View Watchtower]]''' was built in 1932 and is one of Mary Colter's best-known works. Situated at the far eastern end of the South Rim, 27 miles (43 km) from Grand Canyon Village, the tower sits on a 7,400 foot (2,256 m) promontory. It offers one of the few views of the bottom of the Canyon and the Colorado River. It is designed to mimic an [[Anasazi]] watchtower though it is larger than existing ones.<ref>[http://www.scienceviews.com/parks/watchtower.html Grand Canyon Desert View Watchtower]</ref>

'''Bright Angel Lodge''' was built of logs and stone in 1935. [[Mary Colter]] designed the lodge and it was built by [[Fred Harvey]]. Inside the lodge is a small museum honoring Fred Harvey, who played a major role in popularizing the Grand Canyon. In the history room is a fireplace that is made of stone from the South Rim that is layered in the same sequence as in the canyon.

==Ecosystem==
Federal officials started a flood in the Grand Canyon in hopes of restoring its [[ecosystem]] on [[March 5]] [[2008]]. The canyon's ecosystem was permanently changed after the construction of the [[Glen Canyon Dam]] in [[1963]].<ref>
{{ cite web
| title = Manmade flood roars through Grand Canyon
| publisher = CNN
| url = http://edition.cnn.com/2008/US/03/05/grand.canyon.flood.ap/index.html
| accessdate = 2008-03-05}}</ref>
[[image:Numbered condor.jpg|thumb|left|A [[Condor]] in the Grand Canyon, Arizona.]]

==Weather==
Weather in the Grand Canyon varies according to elevation. [[Image:Grandcanyonstorm.jpg|thumb|left|250px|A storm over the Grand Canyon]]The forested rims are high enough to receive winter snowfall, but along the Colorado River in the Inner Gorge, temperatures are similar to those found in Tucson and other low elevation desert locations in Arizona. Conditions in the Grand Canyon region are generally dry, but substantial [[precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]] occurs twice annually, during seasonal pattern shifts in winter (when Pacific storms usually deliver widespread, moderate rain and high-elevation snow to the region from the west) and in late summer (a phenomenon known as the "[[monsoon]]", which delivers waves of moisture from the southeast, causing dramatic, localized thunderstorms fueled by the heat of the day).<ref name="gcweather">{{cite web | title=Grand Canyon National Park Weather | url=http://www.grand.canyon.national-park.com/weather.htm}}</ref> Average annual precipitation on the South Rim is less than 16 inches (35 cm), with 60 inches (132 cm) of snow, the higher North Rim usually receives 27 inches (59 cm) of moisture, with a typical snowfall of 144 inches (317 cm), and Phantom Ranch, far below the Canyon's rims along the Colorado River at 2,500 feet (762 m) gets just 8 inches (17.6 cm) of rain, and snow is a rarity. The weather is different on the north rim and south rim.
[[Image:GrandCanyonWinter2008.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Grand Canyon covered with snow]]

Temperatures vary wildly throughout the year, with summer highs within the Inner Gorge commonly exceeding 100 °F (37.8 °C) and winter minimum temperatures sometimes falling below zero degrees [[Fahrenheit]] (-17.8 °C) along the canyon's rims.<ref name="gcweather"/> Visitors are often surprised by these potentially extreme conditions, and this, along with the high altitude of the canyon's rims, can lead to unpleasant side effects such as [[dehydration]], [[sunburn]], and [[hypothermia]]. Be prepared for a variety of potential weather conditions when visiting, and keep in mind the Grand Canyon is a rugged natural feature located in a remote area subject to a wide range of environmental hazards.

Weather conditions can greatly affect hiking and canyon exploration, and visitors should obtain accurate forecasts because of hazards posed by exposure to extreme temperatures, winter storms and late summer monsoons. While the park service posts weather information at gates and visitor centers, this is a rough approximation only, and should not be relied upon for trip planning. For accurate weather in the Canyon, hikers should consult the National Weather Service's [[NOAA]] weather radio or the official [[NWS]] website.<ref>
{{ cite web
| title = Flagstaff Weather Forecast Office
| publisher = National Weather Service
| url = http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/fgz/
| accessdate = 2007-01-04}}</ref>
[[Image:Grand Canyon.jpg.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Two hikers looking down on the Grand Canyon]]

===Air pollution===
The Grand Canyon has suffered some problems with [[air pollution]], attributed to the nearby [[Navajo Generating Station]], a coal-burning power plant. In 1991 an agreement was reached with the Navajo Generating Station in [[Page, Arizona]] to add air pollution control devices to their smokestacks.<ref>[http://www.american.edu/TED/grand.htm Trade Environment Database Projects: Grand Canyon Air Pollution]</ref>

==Grand Canyon tourism==
Grand Canyon National Park is one of the world’s premier natural attractions, attracting about five million visitors per year. Overall, 83% were from the United States: California (12.2%), Arizona (8.9%), Texas (4.8%), Florida (3.4%) and New York (3.2%) represented the top domestic visitors. Seventeen percent of visitors were from outside the United States; the most prominently represented nations were the United Kingdom (3.8%), Canada (3.5%), Japan (2.1%), Germany (1.9%) and The Netherlands (1.2%).<ref>
{{ cite web
| title = Executive Summary of Grand Canyon Tourism
| publisher = Northern Arizona University
| url = http://www.nau.edu/hrm/ahrrc/reports/G_C_EXEC_SUMMARY.pdf#search=grandcanyon
| format = PDF
| accessdate = 2007-01-04}}
</ref>

===Activities===
{{further|{{wikitravel}}}}
[[Image:SkywalkFromOutsideLedge.jpg|thumb|250px|A view of [[Grand Canyon Skywalk]] from Outside Ledge]]
Aside from casual sightseeing from the South Rim (averaging 7000 feet (2100 metres) above sea level), [[whitewater rafting]], hiking and running are especially popular. The floor of the valley is accessible by foot, muleback, or by boat or raft from upriver. Hiking down to the river and back up to the rim in one day is discouraged by park officials because of the distance, steep and rocky trails, change in elevation, and danger of [[heat exhaustion]] from the much higher temperatures at the bottom. Rescues are required annually of unsuccessful rim-to-river-to-rim travelers. Nevertheless, hundreds of fit and experienced hikers complete the trip every year.
[[Image:Grand-Canyon-helicopter-1985.JPG|thumb|right|250px|Helicopter used for tourist flights over the Grand Canyon (photo taken during 1985)]]
Camping on the North and South Rims is generally restricted to established campgrounds and reservations are highly recommended, especially at the busier South Rim. There is at large camping available along many parts of the North Rim managed by [[Kaibab National Forest]]. Keep in mind North Rim campsites are only open seasonally due to road closures from weather and winter snowpack. All overnight camping below the rim requires a [http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/backcountry-permit.htm backcountry permit] from the Backcountry Country Office (BCO). Each year Grand Canyon National Park receives approximately 30,000 requests for backcountry permits. The park issues 13,000 permits, and close to 40,000 people camp overnight.<ref>[http://www.nps.gov/archive/grca/backcountry/index.htm Grand Canyon Backcountry Permit Page]</ref> The earliest a permit application is accepted is the first of the month, four months prior to the proposed start month. Applying as soon as allowed will improve your chances of obtaining an overnight backcountry use permit for the dates of your choice. If you are unable to secure a permit from the Grand Canyon Backcountry Office, or you are not comfortable hiking the Canyon on your own you can go with a professional guide.

The Coconino Canyon Train is another option for those seeking to take in a more leisurely view of the canyon. It is a 90-minute ride that originates in [[Grand Canyon National Park]] at the old [[Grand Canyon Depot]] and travels 24 miles through the canyon landscapes. The train is made up of [[1923]] [[Pullman (car or coach)|Pullman]] cars and runs on tracks built in the [[1800s]]. <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/la-tr-canyon15-2008jun15,0,7615847.story | title="New train debuts at the Grand Canyon" | author=Forgione, Mary | publisher=Chicago Tribune | date=2008-06-13 | accessdate=2008-06-16}}</ref>

Tourists wishing for a more vertical perspective can board [[helicopter]]s and small airplanes in [[Las Vegas, Nevada|Las Vegas]], [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]] and [[Grand Canyon National Park Airport]] (seven miles from the South Rim) for canyon flyovers. Scenic flights are no longer allowed to fly within 1500' of the rim within the national park because of a late 90s crash. The last aerial video footage from below the rim was filmed in 1984. However, some helicopter flights land on the Havasupai and Hualapai Indian Reservations within Grand Canyon (outside of the park boundaries). Recently, the Hualapai Tribe opened the glass-bottomed [[Grand Canyon Skywalk]] on their property, Grand Canyon West. The Skywalk has seen mixed reviews since the site is only accessible by driving down a {{convert|14|mi|km|sing=on}} dirt road, costs a minimum of $85 in total for reservation fees, a tour package and admission to the Skywalk itself and the fact that cameras are not permitted on the Skywalk at any time. The Skywalk is located 242 miles from the South Rim National Park. Many people mistake the west side of the park by Hermit's Rest as the location of the Skywalk.

===Viewing the canyon===
[[Image:grand canyon.ogg|thumb|320 px|Home video: a flight over the Grand Canyon - with sound (ca. 6 Minutes)]]
Lipan Point is a promontory located on the South Rim. This point is located to the east of the [[Grand Canyon Village]] along the Desert View Drive. There is a parking lot for visitors who care to drive along with the Canyon's bus service that routinely stops at the point. The trailhead to the [[Tanner Trail]] is located just before the parking lot. The view from Lipan Point shows a wide array of rock strata and the Unkar Creek area in the inner canyon.

Perhaps the most heart-stopping view of the canyon is had from the Toroweap Overlook (Tuweep) situated 3000 vertical feet above the Colorado River, about 50 miles downriver from the South Rim and 70 upriver from the [[Grand Canyon Skywalk]]. This region — “One of the most remote in the United States” according to the National Park Service — is reached only by one of three lengthy dirt tracks, that start from [[St. George, Utah]], Colorado City or near Pipe Spring National Monument (both in Arizona). These roads traverse wild, uninhabited land for 97, 62 and 64 miles respectively. A visit to this area can be challenging, but rewarding. The Park Service manages the area for its primitive values and, therefore, improvements and services are minimal.

==Grand Canyon fatalities==
[[Image:GrandCanyonRescueHelicopter1978.jpg|thumb|250px|Grand Canyon rescue Helicopter, 1978]]
About 600 deaths have occurred in the Grand Canyon since the 1870s. Some of these deaths occurred as the result of overly zealous photographic endeavors, some were the result of airplane collisions within the canyon, and some visitors drowned in the Colorado River. Many hikers overestimate their fitness level, become dehydrated and confused, and must be rescued. The Park Service now posts a picture of an attractive and fit young man at several trailheads with the caption "Every year we rescue hundreds of people from the Canyon. Most of them look like him", in an attempt to discourage hikers from feats which are beyond their abilities.

According to ''Over the Edge: Death in the Grand Canyon'', 50 fatalities have resulted from falls; 65 deaths were attributable to environmental causes, including heat stroke, cardiac arrest, dehydration, and hypothermia; 7 were caught in flash floods; 79 were drowned in the Colorado River; 242 perished in airplane and helicopter crashes (128 of them in the 1956 disaster mentioned below); 25 died in freak errors and accidents, including lightning strikes and rock falls; 47 committed suicide; and 23 were the victims of homicides.

===1956 air disaster===
{{main|1956 Grand Canyon mid-air collision}}

In 1956 the Grand Canyon was the site of the deadliest commercial aviation disaster in the [[United States]] at the time.

On the morning of [[June 30]], 1956, a [[TWA]] [[Lockheed Super Constellation]] and a [[United Airlines]] [[Douglas DC-7]] departed Los Angeles International Airport within three minutes of one another on eastbound transcontinental flights. Approximately 90 minutes later, the two propeller-driven airliners collided above the canyon while both were flying in unmonitored airspace.

The wreckage of both planes fell into the eastern portion of the canyon, on Temple and Chuar buttes, near the confluence of the Colorado and Little Colorado rivers. The disaster killed all 128 passengers and crew members aboard both planes.

This accident led to the institution of high-altitude flightways and [[Air traffic control|positive control]] by en route ground controllers.

==See also==
* [[List of Colorado River rapids and features]]
* [[Grand Canyon National Park]]
* [[List of trails in Grand Canyon National Park]]
* [[Colca Canyon]], [[Peru]]
* [[Cotahuasi Canyon]], [[Peru]]
* [[Jacob Lake, Arizona]]
* [[Grand Canyon: A Different View]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{commonscat|Grand Canyon}}
* [http://www.nps.gov/grca/ Grand Canyon National Park Service]
* {{wikitravel}}
* [http://landsat.usgs.gov/gallery/detail/407/ Grand Canyon 3-D perspective] View looking Southwesterly showing ''North Rim'' and Canyon.

<div style="clear: both"></div>
{{Arizona}}
{{Colorado_River_system}}

{{coor title d|36.1|N|112.1|W|region:US-AZ_type:landmark_scale:300000}}

[[Category:Canyons and gorges of Arizona]]
[[Category:Grand Canyon| ]]
[[Category:Southwestern United States]]
[[Category:Colorado Plateau]]
[[Category:Physiographic sections]]
[[Category:Colorado River]]
[[Category:American folklore]]
[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]

[[an:Gran Cañón]]
[[bn:গ্র্যান্ড ক্যানিয়ন]]
[[be-x-old:Вялікі Каньён]]
[[bs:Grand Canyon]]
[[ca:Gran Canyó]]
[[cs:Grand Canyon]]
[[da:Grand Canyon]]
[[de:Grand Canyon]]
[[es:Gran Cañón]]
[[eo:Granda Kanjono]]
[[fo:Grand Canyon]]
[[ga:An Cainneon Mór]]
[[hi:ग्रैन्ड कैन्यन]]
[[hr:Grand Canyon]]
[[id:Grand Canyon]]
[[is:Miklagljúfur]]
[[it:Grand Canyon]]
[[he:הפארק הלאומי גרנד קניון]]
[[lb:Grand Canyon]]
[[lt:Didysis kanjonas]]
[[hu:Grand Canyon]]
[[ms:Grand Canyon]]
[[nl:Grand Canyon]]
[[ja:グランド・キャニオン]]
[[no:Grand Canyon]]
[[nn:Grand Canyon]]
[[om:Grand Canyon]]
[[pl:Wielki Kanion Kolorado]]
[[pt:Grand Canyon]]
[[ro:Grand Canyon]]
[[ru:Гранд-Каньон]]
[[simple:Grand Canyon]]
[[sk:Veľký kaňon]]
[[sl:Veliki kanjon]]
[[fi:Grand Canyon]]
[[sv:Grand Canyon]]
[[vi:Grand Canyon]]
[[uk:Великий Каньйон]]
[[zh:科羅拉多大峽谷]]

Revision as of 21:37, 14 August 2008

Chuck Norris Made the Grand Canyon with his bare hands and his poop

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Grand_Canyon&oldid=231981266"