The Grand Canyon
What is the Grand Canyon?
A huge canyon (gorge) in the USA, Arizona.
Created by the Colorado River.
One of the greatest natural wonders of the world.
How did it form?
Main "builder": The Colorado River.
Process of erosion (wearing away rock) took millions of years.
The river slowly cut deeper and wider.
Size and
Appearance
Length: About 446 km (277 miles).
Width: Up to 29 km (18 miles).
Depth: Over 1.8 km (more than 1 mile deep!).
Canyon walls: Layers of rock in different colors (red, orange, yellow).
Earth's History Book
Rock layers are like pages in our planet's history. Oldest rocks at the bottom: up to 2 billion years old! Youngest layers are at the top.
They tell us about ancient seas, climates, and changes on Earth.
What to do there & Who lives there?
Tourism:
Viewpoints Hiking Mule rides
Rafting on the Colorado
Nature:
Plants: From cacti to pine trees.
Animals: Deer, bighorn sheep, squirrels, birds (like the California Condor).
Importance and Protection
USA National Park (since 1919).
UNESCO World Heritage Site.
A unique geological formation.
Important to protect for the future.
