Amazing Facts About Grand Canyon National Park

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References: https://www.pinkadventuretours.com/blog/20-amazing-grand-canyon-facts https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/index.htm https://www.azcentral.com/story/travel/arizona/grand-canyon/2019/02/26/100-facts-about-arizona-grand-canyon-to-celebrate-the-national-parks-centennial/2714998002/ https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/historyculture/historic-village.htm https://www.grandcanyon.org/about-us/history-mission/ https://www.nationalparks.org/connect/blog/8-facts-about-grand-canyon-you-never-knew https://travelphotodiscovery.com/grand-canyon-national-park-and-unesco-heritage-site/ https://theplanetd.com/facts-about-the-grand-canyon/ https://morethanjustparks.com/grand-canyon-facts/ https://grandcanyonwest.com/things-to-do/skywalk/

The Grand Canyon National Park is hailed as one of the most spectacular examples of natural beauty worldwide. This national park offers incredible views and is considered a geologically important location due to the millions of years of erosion that created the valley. It’s also one of the best outdoor destinations for various sports and activities, like rafting and hiking. Before

hiking the North Kaibab Trail, Bright Angel Trail, or another route, take a minute to learn more about this fascinating destination with the ten most interesting facts below on the Grand Canyon National Park.

1. Grand Canyon National Park spans more than one million acres.

The Grand Canyon National Park is one of the largest national parks in the United States. It ranks at number eleven in size, at 1.2 million acres (around 1,904 square miles). That makes this national park larger than the state of Rhode Island! This enormous area is split into two sections, the North Rim and the South Rim.

2. The North Rim and the South Rim are about 200 miles apart.

With how fast this national park is, it should be no surprise that the North and South Rims are so far apart. If you’re exploring the area by car, it will take you just under five hours to travel from rim to rim. The rims are split by a large canyon stretching about 10 miles across. Though this is a short distance, the route from rim to rim requires you to travel around the canyon.

3. Grand Canyon Village is brimming with museums.

There are four museums within Grand Canyon Village that you can explore. These museums are the Yavapai Geology Museum, Grand Canyon Museum, Kolb Studio, and Tusayan Museum. This area is located near the South Rim entrance (one of the most popular entrances for visitors),

making them quite easy to find during a visit. You’ll also find shops, restaurants, historic buildings, mule rides, visitor centers, and more here.

4. It was made a national park in 1919 and managed by the US National Park Service.

The Grand Canyon National Park only needed a single visit from Theodore Roosevelt before he decided it should be a protected area. It was initially marked as a game preserve in 1906 andt became a national monument in 1908. Finally, it received national park status in 1919. It took about 20 years for the Grand Canyon Conservancy to be established after this. Eddie McKee, one of the South Rim rangers, deemed it a necessary program. This program provided education to visitors through interpretive programs and publications.

5. Grand Canyon West is home to the Skywalk.

While many people think the Skywalk is in Grand Canyon National Park, that’s not true. The famous Skywalk is located in Grand Canyon West, operated by the Hualapai Tribe. This attraction is a glass bridge that visitors can walk onto for views of the Grand Canyon Rim. It’s a horse-shoe-shaped bridge that extends 70 feet over the rim. Those brave enough to peer down will find themselves suspended 4,000 feet over the canyon floor.

6. The Grand Canyon is in the middle of Las Vegas and Antelope Canyon.

The Grand Canyon is near both Las Vegas and Antelope Canyon. It sits between these two popular destinations, closer to Antelope Canyon. It’s about a four-hour drive to Las Vegas and about two hours to Antelope Canyon from the Grand Canyon. So, you can easily explore all three attractions in one trip, especially if you have a car with you or have rented a car.

7. You can only explore one cave in Grand Canyon National Park.

This national park has an impressive 335 recorded caves, though there are likely around 1,000. However, only about 1/3 of the caves have been explored through the years. Of these many caves, only one is open to the public – the Cave of Domes. You can access some of the other caves with a permit, though only for research purposes at the moment. Various fossils and animal remains can be seen in these caves, ranging in age from 1.2 billion to 10,000 years.

8. The national park did not become a UNESCO World Heritage Site until 1979.

It’s both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It became a UNESCO Site in 1979 due to its geological and natural significance. It’s one of the largest canyons worldwide, made over millions of years by the Colorado River. Though it primarily became a UNESCO Site because of the geological processes that helped form the canyon, it has other natural value. It features diverse wildlife and plants, making it a unique destination for visitors. It’s also culturally important, as it has been home to indigenous tribes for many years.

9. The age of the Grand Canyon National Park is unknown.

Originally, it was thought the park was formed by the Colorado River about six million years ago. However, new research has been uncovered that suggests the park may be as old as 70 million years. It’s challenging to decipher the park’s exact age due to erosion, so there is no rock record to study. Those who believe the canyon is older think it began as many small canyons, which eventually turned into one large canyon.

10. The Colorado River is warmer than the Rim.

One of the most interesting facts about the Grand Canyon National Park is that depending on where you are in the park, you’ll experience a different temperature. For example, the temperature will feel cooler as you hike from the rim to lower points in the canyon. This temperature can vary by more than 25 degrees. With this in mind, it makes sense that the river will also vary in temperature from the rim. Generally, the river sees warmer temperatures throughout the year than the rim of the canyon. This is true even in different seasons.

Now that you’re an expert on the Grand Canyon National Park, you can visit the park brimming with knowledge and exciting facts. Check out our blog for more fun travel facts, advice, and tips. Here, you’ll find an array of information on worldwide destination (like Paris!)