Looking At The “Highs And Lows” Of The Grand Canyon!
This is me, being dwarfed by the enormity of the Grand Canyon behind me. I shared my visit from a few years ago, when I saw the enormity of the canyon:
The Grand Canyon is about 277 miles long when measured along the course of the Colorado River. It stretches from Lees Ferry to the Grand Wash Cliffs. While impossible to see it in its entirety, when I flew over it two days ago, I got a great new perspective of the canyon!
I have some fascinating facts to share about this incredible natural wonder, but first, here’s a look from the air!
No one is completely sure about the age of the Grand Canyon.
That’s right, it’s ageless! It was long believed that the Colorado River started carving out the canyon six million years ago, but recent studies have shown this process may have actually started 70 million years ago.
Here’s another aerial view for you:
Grand Canyon National Park is bigger than the entire state of Rhode Island.
Grand Canyon’s National Park comes in at a massive 1,904 square miles, while Rhode Island is around 1,212 square miles. In some places, the canyon itself is over a mile deep and ten miles across!
It’s truly spectacular…I shot from various spots and you can only capture so much of it – overwhelmingly massive! Here’s one more look from the air, and you can clearly see the Colorado river winding through:
The canyon is home to pink snakes.
The Grand Canyon Pink Rattlesnake is only found in the Grand Canyon, and is one of six rattlesnake species that live within park boundaries. The snake’s pink color means it blends into the rocks around it, making it extra surprising when a tourist catches a glimpse of one!
The canyon is full of hidden caves.
There are an estimated 1,000 caves within the canyon, but only 335 have been recorded. Only one cave is open to the public.
I didn’t see any of the caves, but I tried to, when I hiked part way down into the canyon – take a look at the path:
I love this shot of the path, which does indeed go all the way to the canyon flor…but always remember that it takes a long time to hike back up, so takes lots and lots of water and plan ahead! Here’s more of the hiking path:
When I hiked the canyon, I mad hit part of my “Hitch Hiking” series, so take a look at the story link above!
Thanks to Pink Adventure Tours for these terrific Grand Canyon facts….they have many more here as well – and some really cool tours as well – see them all here!
https://www.pinkadventuretours.com/blog/20-amazing-grand-canyon-facts
One of the cool things about the Grand Canyon is how you can get there – which I did by train – here’s a look:
It’s an easy ride from he town of Williams: just leave you car there and go! The train drops you off just steps from the south rim of the Canyon! The video shows how smooth the ride is with great scenery along the way. Oh, just be prepared to be robbed!
Yes, bad guys on horseback ambush the train, climb on board and take our money! Luckily, the conductors told us to be ready to pay up, and I was:
It’s a funny end to an incredible train trip to the canyon – see the whole story here!
I could go on and on about the majesty of this place, so I will:
It’s Home To A Huge Mystery – The “Great Unconformity!”
The Grand Canyon displays a geological phenomenon known as the “Great Unconformity.” This phenomenon refers to the fact that 250-million-year-old rock layers lie directly against 1.2 billion-year-old rocks. No one knows what happened to the hundreds of millions of years of missing layers.
See more of that story here!
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Categories: Exotic Travel, Memoirs, nature, Pop Culture, Sports, Travel, Travel Adventures, Travel Memoir
johnrieber 
‘Enormity’ and ‘overwhelmingly massive’ are a perfect description. Bigger than Rhode Island puts the Grand Canyon into perspective. Your photos are breathtaking, John. Thank you.
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I saw a canyon on my way into Las Vegas the other day and I wondered if it was the Grand Canyon. After seeing your video, it most certainly was NOT! 😁
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Well, with 200 miles of it, you could have seen a part of it – I think the south rim park is the widest part and the most impressive…thanks for the comment!
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I would really enjoy visiting the Grand Canyon and seeing its enormous and awe-inspiring beauty! It’s amazing to hear that there are so many caves, many unidentified, and with one open to the public. It has so much to offer, brilliant post!
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Thank you for the comment…many of us in the US are very worried right now due to the disastrous leadership…Trump is actually cutting the National Park Service budget dramatically – even though it generates a profit! People use the parks, pay fees to do so, but since he’s never stepped outside, he wouldn’t know or even worse, he doesn’t care!
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Thanks a million for my after-hours ‘treat’ I know I’ll enjoy! Have been once on a tourist day trip to get an idea looking ‘over the edge’ and going ‘ooh’! It will be more fun with you 🙂 !
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I’ve only visited once and your experience and pictures are much more detailed than mine, but I’m guessing I could visit many times and always have a different experience. it’s so hard to capture in picutures.
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Your pictures are amazing. The crazy thing is that no matter how amazing the Grand Canyon looks in pictures, it’s even more amazing in person.
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Truly grand! I’ve been a few times but would love to see it again! Maybe via the train from Williams, which looks like a fun way to go!
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That’s a great way to go…
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I was always intending to go and see it, then I made different choices, and things also changed in my life. One of my great regrets now.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Pete, it’s almost more than you can absorb. It is SO large in scope it’s hard to take it all in! Like going to The Louvre and being overwhelmed by the art….I was flying back to New York and had a window seat and there it was! Thanks for commenting and sharing as always!
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The Grand Canyon is breathtaking. You never realize how insignificant you are until you see it. Beautiful pictures and video, thanks for posting, John.
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What an amazing place! I’ve been once but only for a little bit. Would love to go back and do more hiking there.
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Yes, I’ve only been once, hiked partway down into the canyon but would love to spend a night there and have more time…thanks for commenting, it was incredible to see it from the air!
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The Canyon is beautiful everyone should try to visit when they can. chuq
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Thanks for the comment! Agree!
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