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Grand Canyon: 13 Fun Things to Know Before You Go
By:Keith Kravitz

In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson brought the Grand Canyon into the national park system. Since then, the canyon has become a huge hit with travelers around the world. If you are one of the five million people who will visit the Park this year, here are some fun facts that will enhance your experience:

1. Grand Canyon National Park encompasses more than 1,900 square miles or more than 1.2 million acres.

2. The canyon's average width is 10 miles. The narrowest point is in Marble Canyon, where it is 600 feet wide. The maximum width is 18 miles, which is found at several different points.

3. The canyon averages about one mile in depth. Imperial Point, located at the North Rim, is the highest point and measures 8,803 feet high. Navajo Point is the South Rim's highest point, coming in at 7,498 feet. By contrast, the lowest point is Phantom Ranch, which rests at the bottom, elevation 2,400 feet.

4. The canyon's volume is estimated to be nearly 5.5 trillion cubic yards

5. The greatest depth is a bit more than a mile below its rim

6. The Colorado River is 1,450 total miles long of which 277 miles run the canyon from Lees Ferry to the Grand Wash Cliffs (located near Lake Mead in Nevada)

7. The average width of the Colorado River in the canyon is 300 feet; its narrowest point is 76 feet. The river averages 40 feet in depth, with it's greatest depth plunging to 85 feet.

8. The National Park is packed with biodiversity. There are 91 species of mammals, 373 species of birds, 57 species of reptiles and amphibians, 17 species of fish, and more than 1,700 species of plants.

9. Nearly 8,500 invertebrates - animals that don't have an internal skeleton (e.g. insects, worms, spiders) - call the canyon home.

10. There's plenty of exploration to be done. Grand Canyon National Park lists 4,800 archeological sites of interest within its boundaries...and that's with ONLY 3% of the total Park surveyed!

11. The National Park is home to nine buildings that are recognized as National Historic Landmarks. Grand Canyon village, the hub of activity at the Park's South Rim, is comprised of 257 properties, all of which make up a National Historic Landmark District.

12. The Grand Canyon gets five million visitors a year. Of that number, 1.5 million come by car, 30,000 by tour buses, nearly 240,000 via the Grand Canyon Railway, and up to 750,000 by fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.

13. In the early 1900's, Grand Canyon visitors would stay and average of two to three weeks. Fast-forward to today and that visit is down to between two to three hours.

Planning to visit the canyon? You have three places from which to choose: South Rim, West Rim, and North Rim. Here are specifics:

South Rim

Located in northern Arizona just west of Flagstaff, AZ, this is the rim you go to for views and trails. It's a 4-hour drive from Phoenix and a 2-hour drive from Sedona, AZ. If you are coming over from Las Vegas, it's a 5.5-hour drive (personally, I recommend you take the 45-minute flight).

West Rim

This rim is 120 miles due east of Las Vegas. Its a 2.5-hour ride by bus, a 45-minute flight by helicopter, and a 25-minute flight by airplane. This rim is home to the Grand Canyon Skywalk, the glass bridge that extends 70 feet past the edge and suspends you 4,000 feet above the Colorado River. It's also the only place in the canyon where you can hop a helicopter and fly to the bottom.

North Rim

There are no direct flights from Las Vegas or Phoenix to the North Rim. Instead, it's a 5-hour drive from Grand Canyon Village in the South Rim. This is the most isolated part of the Grand Canyon. Roads to it are closed from November to March.

The Grand Canyon deserves its place among the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Hopefully, these quick facts put it into perspective for you. Most importantly, I hope they motivate you to plan a trip to the National Park and see it in person. Being there is a life-changing event. Make sure it gets on your "bucket list."

Ready to experience the Grand Canyon in person? Read travel expert Keith Kravitz' bus, helicopter, and airplane tour operator reviews first at http://www.GrandCanyon123.com.






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