There are many beautiful and wonderful places on our beautiful planet that excite the observer's imagination and take the breath away, representing the splendor of nature and speaking of the uniqueness of our mother earth. One such place is undoubtedly the Grand Canyon (USA). We will talk about it in this article.
Grand Canyon is a national park located in the southwestern United States of America on the Colorado Plateau in Arizona. Its area is approximately 5 thousand km². The greatest depth is about 1900 m. It stretches for almost 450 km in length. And the width in different areas varies: from 7 km to almost 30 km. But at the very bottom, where the Colorado River runs, the canyon narrows to almost 100 meters.
The Grand Canyon was first discovered by the Spaniards in 1540 during their search for gold. But the American Indians knew about it thousands of years ago. This is evidenced by the many rock paintings, which are already more than 2.5 thousand years old.
The status of the Grand Canyon National Park was received back in 1919. And in 1979 it became one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This canyon is considered one of the deepest in the world. After all, it was formed over 10 million years. The plain along whichthe Colorado River flows, under the influence of various underground forces, it gradually rose until the water came across the plateau itself. Then the water stream began to make its way and began to wash out the soft rocks. Even now, the canyon is growing in size due to the erosion of soil layers and weathering.
The flora and fauna are represented here in a huge variety. At the bottom you can find yucca, agave, cacti, shadberry, wild rose, fern. Above there are pines, oaks, spruces, willows, junipers. The total number of different plant species exceeds 1,500. As for living creatures, the canyon is home to about 90 species of mammals, more than 300 species of birds, more than 40 different species of reptiles and many species of fish.
Many people come here to see with their own eyes all the variety of centuries-old rocks, various types of plants and rare species of birds and animals. There are also people who visit the Grand Canyon for outdoor activities: hiking the extreme Bright Angel Trail, visiting the Skywalk, mountain descent to the river on mule, canoeing and kayaking, helicopter flight over the canyon.
For lovers of solitude, there is also an opportunity to find a corner to their liking - it can be a specific place Fern Glen Canyon, reminiscent of an oasis in the desert, or North Canyon Bosh, where clear and calm lakes lie right at the foot of the rocks.
The Grand Canyon is full of attractions. This article is not enough to list even half of them. This, of course, is notbelieving that he himself is a tourist attraction.
Human language cannot convey the beauty of the Grand Canyon. It is impossible to describe the whole gamut of feelings and sensations that arise in the mind when you contemplate the magical sunset of the blood-red sun or try to embrace the endless expanses of the landscape with your gaze. It can even put you in a trance state. In places like this, people can have an unforgettable experience.
Therefore, the Grand Canyon is one of the most visited places in the world (second place after Niagara Falls). It is visited by more than 2 million people a year.
Every US citizen dreams of visiting the Grand Canyon National Park at least once in their life. And many people go here not just to wander around the neighborhood for 2-3 hours and go back, but come here for several days, or even a week. This makes it possible to feel at least a fraction of the atmosphere that surrounds an unknown and unknown world far from civilization.
Even not being Americans, but simply being lovers of travel and new discoveries, you should definitely visit this truly magical place, saturated with secrets and beauty - the Grand Canyon in Arizona.
Residents of the Russian Federation take note. In St. Petersburg, on Suzdalsky Prospekt, there is a wonderful skating rink "Grand Canyon Ice". Nearby are also the entertainment complex of the same name and the furniture center.
