The Great Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is an enormous rift in the Plateau of Colorado that shows uplifted Protezoroic and Paleozoic strata. It also shows one of the six well-known physiographic sections of the Colorado Plateau province.
The Grand Canyon is unparalleled in the world for the views it gives to the visitors of the rim. It is distinct for its overwhelming size as well as obscured and colorful landscape. It is also noteworthy geologically because of the thick sequence of ancient rocks majestically preserved and exposed in the walls of the canyon.
The national park in Grand Canyon boasts of its superlative sight of landscapes that this canyon has to offer. The park was founded by President Theodore Roosevelt as Grand Canyon Monument in 1908. It became a national park in 1919.
There are two ways to come close to the canyon: the remote area which is the North Rim and the more accessible is the South Rim. The South Rim is open all year round and the most popular destination for those visiting the Grand Canyon. If you are planning to visit this side of the canyon, you need to book a reservation in advance because the accommodations and guide services fill up fast from late spring through early fall.
There are several historical sights here in the South Rim mostly located in the Grand Canyon Village. The Buckey O’ Neil Cabin was one of them. It was built in 1890 by William Owen O’ Neil because of the copper deposit nearby. It is the longest standing structure in the South Rim.
You can also visit the Kolb Studio here in the South Rim. It was built by the Kolb brothers in 1904. The Kolbs are photographers who made a living by taking a picture of visitors walking down the Bright Angel Trail. Ellsworth and Emery Kolb filmed their journey down on the Green and Colorado Rivers. He showed this film regularly on their studio until he died in 1976. Now, the Kolb Studio serves as an art gallery and exhibits showing the inspiring power of the Grand Canyon.
The El Tovar Hotel is also one of the most luxurious accommodations in the South Rim built in 1905. It is a 4-story building with a rustic chalet look designed by Charles Whittlesley.
You can do a lot of things in Grand Canyon such as strolling along the portion of the rim trail to take delight at the scenic views. And while walking, you will have the opportunity to see few of the animals living in the Grand Canyon like deer, elk, big horn sheep and the endangered California condor soaring in the ostensibly primeval sky. Hiking is also one of the popular outdoor adventures that you can do.
One of the most distinct trails is the Bright Angel Trail, starting from the Grand Canyon Village near the Bright Angel Lodge. You can also see half an hour presentation of “”Grand Canyon the Hidden Secrets”” in the National Geographic IMAX Theater outside of the park in Tusayan.
The Grand Canyon is a gift from past generations that should be preserved for future generations to see.