8 Things You (Probably) Didn't Know About the Grand Canyon

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• The Grand Canyon area has been inhabited by
  several Native American tribes for thousands of
  years, and is home to three tribes today,1
  including
• The Havasupai (occupying the South Rim of the
  canyon)
• The Hualapai (occupying the West Rim of the
  canyon)
• The Navajo (occupying the outskirts)
• The native peoples who have lived in and around
  the canyon have a deep and spiritual connection
  to the land, its rivers, and wildlife.

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• Although the Grand Canyon is only about 10 miles
  wide, theres no bridge, so you must drive around
  the canyon to get from one rim to the other.
• And its a long drivearound 215 miles, to be
  exact.
• This will take around five hours, but is well
  worth it for many visitors who want a different
  perspective of the canyon. Views are perhaps even
  more spectacular from the North Rim due to the
  higher elevation.

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• The National Park Service hosts a webcam, which
  is installed on the South Rim looking north at
  Yavapai Point.
• Search Grand Canyon National Park webcam to
  find the camera on the National Park Service
  website.
• The cameras webpage also gives information about
  temperature, humidity, air quality levels, and
  other information.

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• Try 1.8 billion years old.2
• Its important not to confuse the age of the
  canyon itself with the age of the rock layers
  that make up the canyon.
• The Grand Canyon was carved out by the Colorado
  River beginning around 5-6 million years ago
  (although some scientists believe some parts of
  the canyon were formed as much as 70 million
  years ago).3
• The rock layers that make up the canyon walls, by
  contrast, are nearly two billion years old.

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• That distinction goes to Cotahuasi Canyon of
  Peru, which, at 11,000 feet deep, is twice the
  depth of the Grand Canyon. Cotahuasi Canyon was
  carved out by the Rio Cotahuasi over eons.4
• The deepest river-cut canyon in the U.S. is
  actually Hells Canyon, located along the border
  of eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, and
  western Idaho.
• While the Grand Canyon doesnt win the grand
  prize for depth, theres no denying its a grand
  prize-winner in terms of beauty.

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• Contrary to the notion that deserts are barren
  wastelands, in fact they are typically full of
  life, and Grand Canyon National Park is no
  exception.
• The area boasts a huge diversity of plants and
  wildlife,5 including
• 1,750 plant species
• 373 bird species
• 91 mammal species
• 57 amphibian (ribbit!) and reptile species
• 17 fish species
• 8,400 insect species

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• The Glen Canyon Dam, northeast of the Grand
  Canyon, was built for water storage and
  hydropower. Before the dam was constructed, the
  water level was higher.
• Over the years there have been several simulated
  floods, where huge amounts of water were
  released from the dam in order to restore the
  environment downstream, including the beaches
  that campers on river rafting trips need in order
  to haul out.

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• It probably doesnt come as much of a surprise
  that the Grand Canyon National Park generates
  tourism dollarsbut you may not have realized
  that it generates nearly half a billion dollars
  every year.6 In 2011, 4.3 million visitors to the
  park spent more than 467 million and supported
  7,361 jobs in the state.
• From patronizing local hotels to participating in
  aerial sightseeing tours to camping, visitors
  help keep the local economy strong.

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• Since 1965 Papillon has been the worlds oldest
  and largest sightseeing company, flying an
  estimated 600,000 passengers a year on its daily
  Grand Canyon tours.
• With over forty unique excursions featuring
  spectacular sights of the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead,
  Monument Valley, Page/Lake Powell, and
  unforgettable views of the Grand Canyon, Papillon
  is proud to offer guests an unparalleled
  perspective of one of the worlds greatest
  natural wonders.
• Visit www.papillon.com for tour information, or
  call [phone].

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Sources

1. http//www.nps.gov/grca/getinvolved/supportyourpar
   k/upload/GRCApark-themes.pdf
2. http//www.npr.org/2014/01/27/265437261/grand-cany
   on-may-be-older-and-younger-than-you-think
3. http//www.nature.nps.gov/Geology/parks/grca/age/i
   ndex.cfm
4. http//geology.com/records/deepest-canyon.shtml
5. http//www.nps.gov/grca/learn/education/upload/Eco
   Article-Dec2011-12.pdf
6. http//www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/grand-canyon-na
   tional-park-tourism-creates-over-467-million-dolla
   rs-in-economic-benefit.htm