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Interesting Facts
- The scope and scale of the Grand Canyon are so astounding as to be almost unfathomable. Geologists believe that the chasm was formed some five million years ago and that certain rocks within it date back two billion years. The national park itself sprawls across approximately 1.2 million square acres, while the Canyon encompasses more than 1900 square miles. In addition, the width from rim to rim ranges from 4 to 18 miles.
- When the railroad first came West, travelers were at the mercy of questionable dining institutions. Fred Harvey, a Londoner, saw a chance to improve this situation and introduced quality food and restaurants. Staffing them were "Harvey Girls," a crew of young, attractive, educated women who were guarded closely by housemothers and a source of distraction for male travelers. Harvey was also the man who hired Mary E.J. Colter to design buildings in the Canyon, providing an unusual opportunity to a female architect.
- Hiking the Canyon is one of the park's most frequent pastimes, and thanks to more than 400 miles of trails, chances are likely that you'll find a favorite route. While some trails pre-date the presence of white settlers in the region, others were created for easier accessibility. If you're looking for time-tested paths, consider the most familiar: Bright Angel, South Kaibab, Grandview, Yaki, and Hermit.
- Not long after the West was explored, folks recognized the Grand Canyon's natural, historic, and scenic merits. In 1892, it was named a forest preserve and, in 1908, became a national monument. Eleven years later, it achieved the status of national park and was given further consideration in 1975, when its physical boundaries were expanded. The Canyon's latest honor was bestowed in 1979, when it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Although the South Rim is by far the most popular Canyon destination, the North Rim is a favorite of folks who prefer the road less traveled literally. In fact, you'll travel 219 miles by car between the two sides, although they're only 12 miles apart across the Canyon. The North Rim, 1300 feet higher than the South, also has a cooler climate, more forest, and is closed during the winter due to weather and road issues. It's also much less touristy, a boon to choosy travelers.
- Decades ago, it was hard to foresee the Canyon's increasing allure. While its roads and facilities were intended to accommodate one million visitors, the park now welcomes more than five million annually. Thankfully, environmental concerns have slowed development in the park, and public transportation has been incorporated to alleviate much of the vehicle traffic.
- Lest you think that the Grand Canyon National Park encompasses the entire length of the Canyon, reconsider. Although it traverses northern Arizona for more than 217 miles and edges into Nevada, the portion of the Canyon within the park is only 56 miles long.
- To be immortalized on a stamp....The Grand Canyon has had that distinct pleasure twice sort of. The first time, in 1999, the Canyon was wrongly identified as being in the state of Colorado. As a result, 100 million stamps had to be destroyed. The next year, the US Postal Service accidentally reversed the chosen image but decided to go on with the show when they determined the cost of rectifying the mistake.
- Visitors who regard the Canyon with bewilderment should be thankful for what our oceans hide geological formations even more stupefying and dramatic than Arizona's pet. Off Alaska's western coast lies a clutch of precipitous underwater canyons, one of which is six times as wide as the Grand Canyon and one of which is nearly twice as deep. Imagine those hikes!
- If Canyon expeditions seem difficult today, consider the first one. John Wesley Powell, a professor and veteran of the Civil War, led a nine-man team down the Colorado River in 1869, exploring the West's last unknown territory. The feat, which impressed even adventurous Native Americans, was all the more unusual because Powell was missing part of his right arm. In addition, three men of the original team, hoping to escape the perceived lunacy of the trip, tried to escape the Canyon, only to be killed by Native Americans.
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