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

Canyon’s geology,

history, attractions, and

much more.

It’s 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

Canyon’s initial discovery

was first documented in

1540, it wasn’t 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 you’ll

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 Canyon’s 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 one-

of-a-kind bird’s-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