Located in northern Arizona in the United States, the Grand Canyon is one of the most spectacular sights on earth, and is classified as one of the seven Natural Wonders of the World. Carved by the mighty Colorado River, which flows 277 miles from one end of the canyon to the other, the area has been a place of beauty and wonder since ancient times.

The Grand Canyon has been home to several American Indian tribes through the centuries. Since the early 20th century tourists and travelers from around the world have visited it. In 1919 the canyon received roughly 44,000 visitors. That same year about 1.22 million acres of the canyon and surrounding area was designated as a National Park. Since then the number of people visiting the canyon has climbed to the rate of more than five million per year.

Visitors can choose to enjoy the scenic outlook over the canyon or can hike the hundreds of miles of trails that lead into the canyon itself. Many take an entire day to hike to the canyon floor or to the famous Havasu Canyon to see the blue-green waterfalls. Two other famous spots within the Grand Canyon are Marble Canyon and Flaming Gorge. Marble Canyon derived its name from the thousand-foot-thick seam of marble that runs through it. Some walls of this canyon have been so eroded and polished by the elements they are as smooth as glass. Then there is Flaming Gorge, which is characterized by the brilliant orange and red hues in its rock walls.

Since the Grand Canyon encompasses such a large area, its wildlife and geology varies significantly. It is home to several major ecosystems, with climates and environments ranging from what one might see if traveling from Canada to Mexico. Because of its protected status and natural inaccessibility, it is home to many rare species of plants and animals. The variety of its geological features makes it one of the most popular sites in the world for geologists to study.

The beauty and magnitude of the Grand Canyon is very hard to comprehend unless you actually see it in person. Standing on a ledge overlooking the vast expanse of shaped and colored rock that stretches for miles around can truly take your breath away. It has been said that pictures cannot do justice to the vastness and sheer size of this immense natural wonder.

At its widest point, the canyon measures 18 miles across! At its deepest point, the canyon floor is 6,000 feet below the rim. In contrast, the tallest building ever constructed is the Taipei Tower in Taipei, Taiwan. It is only 1,667 feet high, meaning that the deepest point of the Grand Canyon is greater than three and a half of these towers stacked on top of one another!

How did this spectacular natural wonder form? Modern scientists are still at a loss to explain it. Geologist Wayne Ranney has said, “To date, geologists have been unable to determine the canyon’s precise age and what specific processes were at work in carving it.”

Science is unable to entirely comprehend how such a marvel could have been produced. It is truly a grand wonder of God’s creation!

Sources: www.50states.com; www.nps.gov