Millions of people from

all over the world travel

to see spectacular views
of the Grand Canyon
each year, but there are
some lesser-known facts
about this beautiful
national park that often

go overlooked.
In this presentation, we
offer up some of the
most intriguing points

pertaining to the Grand

Canyons geology,
history, attractions, and
much more.

Its no secret that the Grand Canyon is enormous in its depth and size, but did you
know that it spans over 277 miles long and up to 18 miles wide? In addition, this

majestic canyon goes as deep as 5,000 feet in certain areas, making it one of the
largest and most popular Natural Wonders of the World.

Through the process of

erosion and other
geological factors,
scientists theorize that the
Grand Canyon was carved
by the Colorado River over
the course of 3 million to 6
million years. Some
horizontal layers of the
canyon even span across
2,000 million years of

geological history according

to scientific estimates.

While the Grand

Canyons initial discovery
was first documented in
1540, it wasnt fully
explored until the year
1869 when Major John
Wesley set sail on the
Colorado River. It later

became a national
monument in 1908 and
was designated as a U.S.
national park in 1919.

There are 91 mammal species

and 47 reptile species known to

be living among the canyon,

including mountain lions,
bobcats, beavers, bighorn
sheep, and rattlesnakes. Birds
are plentiful as well, ranging from
bald eagles to pinyon jays. One
of the creepiest animals youll
find is the short-horned lizard,
known to shoot blood from its
eyes as a means of warding off
potential predators.

One of the strangest facts surrounding the Grand Canyons history involves the
advancement of aviation regulations. The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration)
was implemented in 1958 after two passenger planes collided into each other

while trying to enter the airspace for a better view of the canyon.

Grand Canyon National Park is the second-most visited park in the U.S., after the
Great Smoky Mountains National Park. About 5 million people visit annually to
experience Grand Canyon tours and other exciting sightseeing opportunities
nearby. With the large number of visitors this destination receives each year, its
population is staggering by comparison. According to the 2010 Census, there are
only 2,004 people residing in Grand Canyon Village.

Popular attractions include the

Grand Canyon Skywalk, a glass
floor walkway that extends about 70
feet outward from the canyon rim,
as well as white water rafting
adventures along the Colorado

River. Thousands of people also

take part in Grand Canyon air tours
every year for a chance to see the
magnificent landscape with a oneof-a-kind birds-eye view.

Over 10 million people have

visited the Grand Canyon and
other national parks with Scenic

Airlines. One of the largest and

most experienced aerial tour
operators in the world, travelers
from across the globe rely on
Scenic to experience over 20
uniquely customizable tours in
exploration the great Southwest.

Your adventure awaits.

Visit www.scenic.com or call
1-800-634-6801 for more
information and to book your
next vacation.

Sources

http://www.gctours.net/interesting-facts-about-grand-canyon/
http://www.livescience.com/31903-amazing-grand-canyon-facts.html
http://grand-canyon-park.org/fun-facts/
http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/earth/grandcanyon.html