The Grand Canyon

Description

• 277 miles in length• Covers 1.2 million acres (larger than state of

Rhode Island)• Width varies from half a mile to 18 miles• Highest elevation point: 9165 feet above sea level• Maximum canyon depth from rim: 6000 ft.• Hike from Canyon’s South Rim to the North Rim

is 21 miles• Colorado River is at Canyon floor

History

• Piute Indians believe Canyon was shaped by the god Tavwoats

• First European visitor was Garcia Lopez de Cardenas in 1540

• First American to survey region was Lt. Joseph Christmas Ives

• John Wesley Powell led first river expedition in 1869; sparked national interest in the Canyon.

• Established as national park in 1919

Geology and Weather

• Some rocks are 2 billion years old• Colorado River began to form Canyon about 6

million years ago• Major rocks are limestone, sandstone, and some

igneous from extinct volcanoes• Semi-arid climate: avg. rainfall 14 in/yr; avg.

snowfall 65 in/yr• Warmest month is July: avg. temperature is 69.5

degrees

Visitor Activities

• Guided and self-guided tours

• Picnicking, camping, backcountry hiking, horseback riding, and biking

• White-water rafting, kayaking, and fishing

• Bus tours, mule trips, and river tours

Lodging

• South Rim: Red Feather Lodge, 602-638-2414, and Canyon Squire Motel, 602-638-2681

• North Rim: Kaibab Lodge, 602-638-2389; Jacob Lake Lodge, 602-643-7232; and Moqui Lodge, 602-638-2424

For Information

• Write Superintendent, Grand Canyon National Park, P.O. Box 129, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023

• Phone 602-638-7888 for recorded info about weather, road conditions, and interpretive activities