Grand Canyon of Arizona: seventh natural wonder of the world
The Grand Canyon is a natural phenomenon found in the United States state of Arizona. This scenic spot has evolved over millions of years with the Colorado River constantly eroding the rocks and turning it into a massive canyon that is unlike anything in the world.
It has been aptly named one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and has been instrumental in attracting millions of visitors to this place over the years. As Donald Culross Peattie has rightly said in his work The Road of a Naturalist “The Grand Canyon is carved by the master hand; it is the abyss of silence, widened in the desert; it is all the time inscribing the bare rock; it is the book from the earth “.
It is a steep canyon carved by the Colorado River over millions of years. This natural wonder is located largely within the Grand Canyon National Park, which is also among the first national parks in the US.
The President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, was one of the main advocates for the preservation of this region and had also visited it several times to enjoy the beauty and also to hunt.
It spans an area 277 miles (446 kilometers) long, 18 miles (29 kilometers) wide, and 1.83 kilometers (6,000 feet) deep. John Wesley Powel, who was an American explorer, teacher, geologist, and also a war veteran, has described the Grand Canyon thus: “The glories and beauties of form, color, and sound come together in the Grand Canyon: incomparable shapes. even over the mountains, the colors that compete with sunsets and sounds ranging from the tempest to the tinkling raindrop, from the waterfall to the bubbling fountain. “
Within such a beautiful and serene environment is the National Park, declared a World Heritage Site and one of the Crown Jewels of the National Park System. Declared a national park in 1919, it attracts millions of visitors each year. The National Park is spread over an area of 1.2 million acres and is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna.
The National Park is home to numerous animals, from the endangered California Condor to Cougars, Rattlesnakes, and Gila Monsters. There are over 1,500 species of plants, ancient archaeological sites dating back thousands of years, and one of the most complete geological cross-sections visible anywhere on the planet.
The Canyon can be reached by road, rail and air. But if one really wants to enjoy the great beauty of the place, then the best option is to board the Grand Canyon Railway. It was the first means of transport to reach the area and it saved a lot of money and time than horse-riding stagecoaches. There are two railroad depots in the Grand Canyon. On the south side of the line is Williams Railway Depot, which was built in 1908 and at the north end is the Grand Canyon Depot built in 1910. This train accessed the South Rim and the North Rim of the Canyon.
The place also houses the historic Hotel El Tovar, which was established in 1905 and is a National Historic Landmark. It sits on the rim of the canyon and offers stunning views of the gorge and river.
Then there is also the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel, which was built on the architectural pattern of the century-old Hotel Fray Marcos, opened by Santa Fe as the Harvey House. It provides the feeling of a bygone era and offers comfortable rooms and amenities.
So this is the Grand Canyon for you. To quote James Wesley Powel again: “The elements that come together to make the Grand Canyon the most sublime spectacle of nature are manifold and highly diverse.”