8 Fun Facts About Grand Canyon
Things you might not know about the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona
Desert View Watchtower, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona (2016) by National Park ServiceGrand Canyon National Park, National Park Service
More than just Grand
The Grand Canyon was designated a National Park in 1919 and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As canyons go, this one is pretty grand, but here are some fun facts that you might not know.
1. Deep, but not the deepest
The Grand Canyon National Park is 1 mile (1.6 km) deep. But it’s not the deepest canyon in the world—that title actually belongs to the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon in Tibet, which is two miles (3.2 km) deeper.
2. Colorado River is a "losing river"
Most rivers grow larger as they flow downstream, but the Colorado River's extensive network of dams, canals, and pipelines, diverts more water from the river than enters it. It completely dries up before reaching the sea and is thus a “losing river”.
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3. The South Kaibab Trail was a bypass
In 1919 Ralph Cameron controlled the Bright Angel Trail (pictured here) as a private toll road. He refused to give up his claim to the National Park, demanding $150,000 to hand over the rights.
Out of frustration the Park Service bypassed him entirely, spending $73,000 to blast the South Kaibab Trail out of the canyon walls using dynamite and power tools. After a long series of legal battles, Bright Angel Trail was turned over to the National Park Service in 1928.
4. "Kaibab" means "Mountain Lying Down"
The name (shared by the trail and the National Forest) comes from the Paiute language, and it is their descriptive term for the Grand Canyon.
5. Canyon of a 1,000 caves
Scientists estimate there are roughly 1,000 caves throughout the canyon. However, only 335 have been recorded, and under the current park policy, all caves are currently closed to visitors, except for research purposes.
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6. The Colorado River was almost Grand
Until 1921, the upper section of the Colorado River was actually named the Grand River. A Colorado congressman successfully pushed a joint resolution through Congress to rename it to the "Colorado River" to better emphasize the state where the river's headwaters began.
7. A 278 mile hike that covers 750 miles
To hike the length of the Grand Canyon, takes almost a month to complete. A thru-hike is approximately 750 miles (1,207 km) because the route goes up, down and around side canyons. There are very few hiking trails and there are many changes in elevation.
8. 12,000-year-old human history
Remains of large Ice Age mammals, such as giant ground sloths, camels, mastodons and horses have been discovered in caves throughout the canyon. Clovis-style spear points (similar to those pictured) indicate that Ice Age hunters also lived within the canyon’s walls 12,000 years ago.
Lipan Point, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona (21st Century) by NPS Photo / Michael QuinnGrand Canyon National Park, National Park Service
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The Grand Canyon National Park is beautiful and awe inspiring with a history that is as quirky as it is rocky.
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