Comprehensive information on the Grand Canyon of the United States

The Grand Canyon is a world-famous natural wonder, with the Colorado River running through it. It is one of the natural heritage sites selected by UNESCO to be protected. The Grand Canyon, located on the Kaibab Plateau in northwestern Arizona, is one of the most spectacular scenery on earth.

The Colorado River has cut 19 major canyons on the Colorado Plateau, with a total area of ??2724.7 square kilometers. The deepest, widest and longest one is the Grand Canyon. With a total length of 446 kilometers, it is one of the longest canyons in the world. The top of the canyon is 6 to 28 kilometers wide, and the deepest point is 1,800 meters. The water surface at the bottom of the valley is less than 1,000 meters wide. In summer, ice and snow melt, and the water depth increases to 18 meters. Most of the rocks are red. Basic introduction Chinese name: American Grand Canyon Location: Northwest Arizona, USA Area: 2724.7 square kilometers Opening hours: Year-round Attraction level: World Natural Heritage Famous attractions: Rock Arch National Park, Indian Heritage Park, etc. Before departure Must-read, introduction to scenic spots, key information, how to get there, beautiful pictures of scenic spots, geographical environment, location, landforms, hydrology, geology, natural landscapes, historical legends, plant resources, tour methods, list of scenic spots, southern edge, northern edge, western edge , travel routes, main attractions, travel tips, geographical location The Grand Canyon is located on the Colorado Plateau in Arizona, with the Colorado River flowing through it. It is a world-famous natural wonder. Because the Colorado River flows through it, it is also called the Grand Canyon. It is one of the natural heritage sites selected by UNESCO to be protected. *** 446 kilometers, the deepest point is about 1.6 kilometers, it is about 500 stories high, and the widest point is 13 kilometers. The history of the development of the earth is engraved on its canyon wall-about one-third of the history of changes in the earth's crust. Deeply recorded on the rock walls, the rocks at the bottom of the valley have experienced approximately two billion years of changes, which is half the age of the earth. The Grand Canyon of the United States Landforms The Grand Canyon of the United States contains biological fossils representative of the geological period, so it is known as the "living geological history textbook". The Colorado Plateau is a typical "table-shaped plateau", also known as "table mountain", which is a mountain with a flat top and steep sides. This topography is formed by erosion (undercutting and exfoliation). During erosion, the harder rock formations in the plateau form a protective cap in the areas between river valleys where erosion is active. The result is a platform-shaped mountain or a fortress-shaped hill. Hydrology The Grand Canyon is a masterpiece of the Colorado River. This river originates in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, flows through Utah, Arizona, and enters the sea from the Gulf of California in California. The total length is 2320 kilometers. "Colorado" means "Red River" in Spanish. This is because the river often appears red due to the large amount of sediment carried in it, hence the name. The Colorado River has been eroding for a long time, rushing forward day and night, sometimes cutting through mountains and sometimes giving way to flow back. It has carved out 19 canyons such as Black Canyon, Canyonlands, Glen Canyon, and Bruce Canyon in the upper reaches of the main stream and tributaries. , and when it finally flows through the rocky Kaibab Plateau in Arizona, there is an astonishing stroke, forming this grand canyon wonder, and becoming the "King of Canyons" among all the canyons in this water system. Due to different stratigraphic structures, the geological grand canyon is dense and dense. The river's rampage sometimes causes a large area to collapse, and sometimes only a gap is left. Sometimes it surges like a roaring wave, sometimes it erodes like a sawtooth; If it leaves gentle traces, if it rolls like a torrent, it will produce abrupt patterns. As a result, this long canyon has various shapes, some are wide, some are narrow; some are like honeycombs; some are like ant nests; some are towering like pagodas, some are piled like bricks and stones; For example, there are lonely peaks, and some are like natural caves. People named these masterpieces of nature according to their shapes, and gave them some names that contain mythological stories, such as the Temple of Apollo, the Temple of Diana, the Brahmin Temple, etc. The "Angel Window" on its northern edge is a sky-high hollow appearing on a mountain peak. The "Meadow Point" on its southern edge is like the general platform where ancient generals hung their seals to pay homage to their commanders. Especially the stratigraphic section of the valley wall has clear texture. The layers are layer upon layer, like a curved pattern composed of thousands of volumes of poetry and books, rising and falling along the mountains, extending along the valleys, and like a thousands-mile silk ribbon, dancing on the earth. When visitors come here, they all marvel at the wonders of nature’s uncanny craftsmanship.

The color of the Grand Canyon in the United States varies depending on the type of rock on the two walls, the degree of weathering, the evolution of time, and the minerals contained. Iron ore appears colorful under sunlight, while other oxidized The objects produce various dark tones, and the quartzite will appear white, thus forming patches of bright red, squares of deep ocher, patches of dark black, patches of iron gray, and the earth is like a huge colorful palette. , so beautiful. Some of them are poetic because of the vegetation growing out of the soil, and some of them are slightly purple because of the mist at the bottom of the valley. In addition, the weather changes, or the sun is shining directly, or the wind and rain are dim, or the dawn is dawning. The scenery of the canyon can be unpredictable and colorful when the sun sets over the mountains. Natural landscape: The horizontal rock layers on the canyon walls are clear and distinct. These are geological sediments hundreds of millions of years ago. Just like the annual rings of trees, they provide sufficient basis for people to understand geological changes. Not all rocks are hard. The fragile parts cannot withstand wind, rain or the impact of rapids, and will disappear without a trace over time. The shapes of the remaining parts are often very strange. It includes a natural stone bridge, a winding path with thousands of twists and turns, two cliffs standing thousands of feet high, holding a line of blue sky scenery, and some other caves and rock valleys formed by the impact of water flow. The shapes are various and the colors are as red as fire. Every rock is like a beautiful painting. Being in it is like coming to a fairyland. The climate and landscape are very different between the two walls of the canyon and the valley bottom. The south wall is dry and warm, with few plants; the north wall is higher than the south wall, with a cold and humid climate and green trees; the valley bottom is dry and hot, presenting a desert landscape. The Colorado River meanders at the bottom of the valley with deep twists and turns. The river bed ratio in the entire Grand Canyon area drops to 150 centimeters per kilometer, which is 25 times that of the Mississippi River. Among them, 50% of the specific drop is very concentrated, which creates a landscape of rushing rivers in some parts of the canyon. Because of this, sailing and rafting along the canyon becomes a fascinating adventure activity. Historical legends: According to research by geographers, the Grand Canyon has a history of six million years. It is a masterpiece of nature on the earth. Its splendor and magnificence are far beyond ordinary natural scenery. Americans are proud of this. The ruins of mud-walled huts in the Grand Canyon indicate that Indians were the first owners to develop the area in the 13th century. But the natural wonders of the Grand Canyon are only known to the publicity of Major Powell, an American one-armed artilleryman. In 1869, he led an expedition team and sailed in a small boat from the unexplored upper reaches of the Colorado River to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. He wrote a travelogue about his thrilling experiences along the way, which was widely circulated and attracted the attention of both the government and the public in the United States. Grand Canyon National Park was established in 1919. Now it receives more than 3 million tourists every year. It is said that in the 16th century, a man named Colorado trekked here from a distant place and discovered the Grand Canyon in search of the legendary seven golden cities. This is where the name of the Grand Canyon comes from. According to Indian legend, the Grand Canyon was formed during a flood. At that time, God transformed human beings into fish turtles and survived. Therefore, the local Indians still do not eat fish. In fact, the work of carving the Grand Canyon was not accomplished overnight, but took billions of years, and it has not stopped until now, and will last forever. Human beings cannot detect the progress of carving every day, but the evolution of time shows incredible magnificence. Plant Resources The Grand Canyon not only has fantastic scenery, but also is rich in wildlife. There are more than 200 species of birds, 60 species of mammals and 15 species of reptiles and amphibians living here. The area between the Farton Ranch at the bottom of the valley and the San Francisco Peak, which is more than 90 kilometers away and about 3,500 meters high, is both Subtropical plants are also the growing areas of cold zone plants. Therefore, plants such as cacti, poppies, spruce, and fir almost grow in the same area. Topography On April 5, 1909, the Arizona Gazette published an article titled "Exploring the Grand Canyon of America: Unusual Discovery Suggests Ancient Grand Canyon Man Originated from Eastern Egypt." According to the article, this time Exploration funded by the Smithsonian Institution found a large number of ancient Egyptian vessels in the Grand Canyon. If confirmed, the history of the Grand Canyon in the United States will await further research. Hieroglyphics, copper weapons and tools, statues of Egyptian goddesses, and mummified corpses were claimed in this article. Although the discovery caused a stir at the time, it remains a mystery and the research is thought to be needed to prove its authenticity as ancient Egyptian treasures have never been found here before.

Several previous canyon cave survey teams also returned empty-handed. Tour methods: Visitors can walk or ride on donkeys, follow the trails to explore the valley bottom, take a kayak on the rapids of the Colorado River to experience thrilling fun, or take a scenic flight to overlook the majestic Grand Canyon from the air. List of attractions: Grand Canyon, Rock Arch National Park, Indian Heritage Park, Bryce Park, Devil's Garden, canyon attractions, Lake Mead and Lake Powell, and scenery on both sides. The South Rim is named the Grand Canyon National Park. In fact, it is only the South Rim and the North Rim, which are managed by the official Grand Canyon National Park Service. The West Rim is the Hualai Indian Reservation. In a sense, it is a "cottage version". ". Due to the large number of scenic spots, well-developed and long opening hours, most of the approximately 5 million tourists who visit every year come to the South Rim. Tourists from all over the world can reach here by plane, train and bus. Of course, self-driving cars may be the most popular, because the ticket for each car is 25 US dollars no matter how many people you take. It is valid for 7 days and includes going to the North Rim. Isn’t it worth it? The ticket price for non-drivers is US$12, which seems a bit expensive, but there are free sightseeing buses in the scenic area to various viewing spots, so it is not a loss. But there is always some inconvenience due to the shuttle bus time limit. North Rim The North Rim is more than 300 meters higher than the South Rim and is a place less visited by tourists. Not only is it relatively remote, but due to road closures due to ice and snow in winter, it is only open from mid-May to mid-October every year. But this does not mean that the scenery on the North Rim is not spectacular enough. If you like to stare at the stunning scenery without the hustle and bustle of tourists, wouldn't it be just what you want? The heart of the North Rim is in the Bright Angel District, which houses hotels, restaurants, and a visitor center. But the hotels here are relatively expensive, with a room costing more than a hundred dollars. There is no free bus here either, so you have to drive or walk. The West Rim is a protected area belonging to the Hualai Indians. It is developed by some investors and is not managed by the Grand Canyon National Park. Although the tour route is not long and there are not many scenic spots, since it is close to Las Vegas, a compact car trip can be completed in one day. For example, traveling by plane only takes half a day, so it is more suitable for foreigners with tight travel schedules. tourists. The various sightseeing methods here, including "sea, land and air", can also make tourists find what they want, but the price is slightly more expensive. The main attractions on the tourist route are the Grand Canyon, which is connected to dozens of national parks, among which Seon National Park, Bryce National Park, Arches National Park and Memorial Valley are the most famous. You should also focus on these places when visiting: 1. Seon National Park: Turn from Highway 15 to Highway 9 and you will arrive at Seon National Park. The boulders, cliffs and red clay hills here are all worth taking pictures of. 2. Bryce National Park: From Seon National Park, turn onto Highway 89, and then go east onto Highway 12 to reach Bryce National Park. The most famous thing here is the bamboo shoot-like red clay tower forest standing in the deep ravine. You should stay for a while to take pictures of the beautiful scenery of the strange rocks in the morning and evening light. 3. Arches National Park: You can reach it by crossing the Green River and turning onto Highway 70. There are huge arch-shaped rocks everywhere in the park. American automobile and motorcycle cross-country races are often held here. Hotels here are often full during peak tourist season, so visitors need to prepare in advance. 4. Memorial Valley: All the way south from Highway 191 is the Indian Reserve, also known as the "Mexican Sombrero Scenic Spot." From here to the entrance of Highway 163 is a straight avenue. On the west side of the road is a giant rock like a monument. , so it is called "Memorial Valley". The long-distance road running scene in the movie "Forrest Gump" was shot here, and many of the black and white masterpieces of famous photographers Ansel and Adams were also produced here. 5. Lake Powell: Going west from Highway 160 is Lake Powell. If you have time to go deep into the lake, you can find beautiful scenery. 6. Grand Canyon National Park: The North Rim is at the southern end of Highway 89. It is snowy in winter and is the best place to take pictures of snow scenes. The South Rim is a tourist attraction. In addition, there are several small parks along Route 24, and you can decide whether to visit them based on time. Travel Tips 1. If you come during the day, you are likely to encounter problems with traffic congestion and insufficient parking lots, especially in the summer. The least crowded time is from November to February. But the winter climate is not very suitable for travel. 2. The average altitude of the South Rim of the Grand Canyon is 2,134 meters, and the average altitude of the North Rim is 2,438 meters. It takes some effort to climb up this canyon. Visitors with respiratory and heart problems may feel unwell. 3. Accommodation or camping in the park requires reservation in advance. When booking, specify whether you are staying on the North Rim or the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Campgrounds usually fill up quickly, so book as early as possible.

4. You can see the Grand Canyon from the car on the South Rim. This part is easier to drive and is open all year round. The North Rim is a thousand feet higher than the South Rim and is covered in ice and snow from late October to mid-May every year. 5. Each hotel has one-day tour brochures provided by different companies, and a Grand Canyon tour requires a full day. Some go by bus (one way takes 4.5 hours), and some go by plane, mostly helicopters. The former is available at US$130 and US$150, while the latter is available at US$300 and US$450. 6. Various travel promotion materials for the Grand Canyon can be obtained at hotels or other places in Las Vegas. It is said that there are more than 30 travel agencies "grabbing business", so be careful to compare shopping. There are also different travel agencies in different seasons. Different "current prices", bargain as much as possible. For example, flying there may cost four to five hundred dollars, but if you find the right way, you can get it for two to three hundred dollars. It should be said that air routes and bus routes have their own characteristics, but if you are not in a hurry, the author recommends self-driving as the first choice, followed by bus tours from travel agencies. Not only is it cheap (a one-day tour is about more than a hundred US dollars), but you can enjoy the scenery in detail on the ground, there are many shooting opportunities, and you can also listen to the tour guide's explanation (Chinese Travel Agency has Chinese), which adds more knowledge. The scenery is more spectacular when viewed from an airplane, but it is bumpy and difficult to photograph, and the only explanations available in English will be obscured by the noise. You can see the most beautiful and special scenery while hiking, but don’t do it unless you are a traveler with a certain level of experience.