The Grand Canyon National Park. This place defies logic, and sometimes scientific explanation too.
The Grand Canyon is a premium tourist destination, which has been drawing people in for over a century. It’s estimated that around 5.9 million people visit the national park every year, which means it’s the second most popular national park, trailing behind the Great Smoky Mountains. As far as locations go it’s one of the most recognizable destinations on the planet.
What is it about this place that brings in so many people to explore it? Part of it is the sheer size– the whole place is completely awe-inspiring. That aside, there is much to discover about the Grand Canyon, as there has only been so much time, access, and resources to find out all the secrets it holds. Many people place the Grand Canyon on their bucket list because it’s such a unique find. There are so many amazing things about the grand canyon, it’s no wonder that some of them defy logic, and sometimes scientific explanation. Geologists, nature enthusiasts, and scientists are all keen to unlock the secrets within the borders of this wonder of the world.
Can Grand Canyon Be A Gateway To The Afterlife?
No matter what you believe in, when a place is sacred to a culture, there’s no doubt that a sort of magical energy exists that is worthy of exploring and paying respect to. Such is the case for the spiritual significance Native tribes have placed on the canyon, seeing it as a ‘place of emergence’, where many are said to set sail through the Colorado rivers inside the canyon as a part of their journey from this human life towards their next afterlife destination.
The Canyon Has Its Own Weather
When visiting The Grand Canyon it can be essential to make sure you’re wearing layers since temperatures vary dramatically based on location and elevation. Elevation in the canyon ranges from 2,000 feet to over 8,000 meaning the temperature rises around 5.5 degrees with each 1,000 feet loss in elevation. From the top of the canyon to the very bottom the temperature changes by over 25 degrees.
The base of the gorge is scorching hot in the summer and the rim at the top is icy cold in the winter months. The coldest, soggiest weather in the canyon is at the Bright Angel Ranger Station, and the hottest and driest is only eight miles away at Phantom Ranch.
Grand Canyon Has The Cleanest Air In The US
While nearby California houses eight of the ten most polluted cities in the United States, the Grand Canyon has clear air-worthy of your vacation. A report from the American Lung Association revealed that in America, more than 4 in 10 people live in areas with unhealthy amounts of lung pollution, so perhaps it’s time to visit somewhere with better air quality.
With an elevation on the South Rim of nearly 7,000 feet above sea level, travellers and locals can experience some of the cleanest air in the country while visiting the Grand Canyon, so enjoy some of the restorative benefits that a trip to the canyon has while you’re there.
How Old Is The Canyon?
There is a great deal of debate as to exactly how old The Grand Canyon is. For a long time, it was believed that the Colorado River first began to carve it out six million years ago. A 2012 study revealed a big change in this theory, showing evidence suggesting the canyon began to form some 70 million years ago with rocks dating back billions of years ago. It was once thought to be several, smaller canyons, that slowly began to take shape together.
There are a lot of rocks that need to be examined in order to determine for sure what and when the canyon first came to be.
No Dinosaur Fossils At Grand Canyon
You’d think that something as old as the Grand Canyon would hold interesting and exciting dinosaur fossils, but it doesn’t. The rocks found making up the walls of the canyon were formed long before dinosaurs ever roamed the earth, around a billion years older. There are still many fossils, some marine animals even dating back 1.2 billion years, as well as some more recent land mammals who have been discovered, who were living in the canyon as recently as 10,000 years ago.
The Mystery Of The Cursed Relics
We all know the adage when visiting historic places, or anywhere natural of 'don't leave more than footsteps, don't take more than photos'. It's said that those who have taken what doesn't belong to them at The Grand Canyon are haunted by what they have stolen from the land.
Park Rangers have reported receiving letters and the return of things that tourists have taken with an explanation that they had experienced extreme bad luck and illness since removing these items from the park, where they belong.
Fire At The Canyon Is A Good Thing
When we think about fire, especially in modern times seeing the way it can ravage our land, it’s hard to imagine fire being a good thing for a natural space such as The Grand Canyon. The fire has been a productive part of the Colorado Plateau’s ecosystem for thousands of years now, with men using ‘controlled fire’ in the canyon for some time. These fires naturally thin the forest, bring nutrients into the soil, and create new plant growth.
Fire managers hired by the park work hard to balance the need for fire all while protecting human and animal life, as well as the park property.
Interesting, right? What's more interesting is that we have more unexplained things about Grand Canyon, and we can't wait to share them with you.
What you can do is to visit the Canyon, to see the majestic view yourself. In the meantime, you can check our West Rim Tours, where you can visit the Skywalk there.
We have experience in the touring and travel industry and look forward to serving you with all your touring adventures! We offer special group/corporate rates and custom tours!
So, what are you waiting for? Plan and Book Your Trip with Christianson Tours!
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