Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is a national park in the US state of Arizona, spread over an area of 4,927 km2. This old park is home to the Grand Canyon of the Colorado River, which many have recognized as a natural wonder of the world.
The first Europeans to visit these places were the conquistadors from Spain in 1540. Three centuries later, scientists came here, who sailed through the Grand Canyon by boat and compiled a detailed map of the area. In 1908, the Grand Canyon was declared a national monument, and in 1919 it received the status of a national park. All this was done to prevent the construction of a dam on the Colorado River. The Grand Canyon perfectly combines its magnificent gorges, deep canyons, and colorful rocks.
The Colorado riverbed is very unusual, which has been forming for millions of years. Previously, the river flowed evenly across the plain, but over time, the plateau on which the river was located began to rise slowly. The river became more and more rapid, until the rocks began to collapse. First, limestone rock was destroyed, then sandstone and shale. Over ten million years, the river has eroded two kilometers of rocks, forming the Grand Canyon. In its current form, the canyon is fascinating: in some places, the Grand Canyon opens its arms, showing the beauty of the winding Colorado River, in other places the canyon is narrow and then its cliffs attract the dizzying height and false proximity of the slopes. On the walls of the Grand Canyon, you can find the remains of ancient fossil mollusks, caves, and Native American rock paintings. Indians have long been interested in the Grand Canyon, they prayed to their gods here.
Anyone can visit the Grand Canyon. Many viewing platforms have been built for the guests of the park, which offer breathtaking views of the canyon. For those who want to stay here longer, you can use the services of hotels. Visitors can use hiking trails or ride a mule to explore the nature of the canyon. Outdoor enthusiasts can take a boat trip along the Colorado River. The Grand Canyon National Park is visited by over 2 million visitors a year, and it is considered the most visited park, along with Zion Park and Bryce Canyon.
There are several ecosystems in the Grand Canyon National Park, including deserts and forests. The flora and fauna of the park is very rich and includes over one and a half thousand plants, more than 350 species of birds, 90 mammals and almost 50 representatives of reptiles. There are huge temperature differences in the national park - if it is 15 degrees Celsius at the top of the canyon, then it can reach up to 40 degrees in the lower reaches.
