Colorado Canyon is considered a miracle created by nature itself. No human effort was put into the origin of this work of art. For many years people have mastered this beautiful place, and now the Grand Canyon in the United States is very popular among tourists. What attracts people to this incredible beauty of the place? What is the origin story of one of nature's most amazing creations?
Tipped Mountain Range
Hans Kloos, a geologist from Germany, gave the canyon his own definition - he called it an "overturned mountain range". This name was given to Colorado because of the assumption that if you fill the entire canyon with plaster or clay, let it dry, and then get it and turn it over, you get a real mountain range similar to the Apennines.
The Grand Canyon (Grand, Grand Canyon) is 446 kilometers long and one and a half kilometers deep in Arizona.
Description of the canyon
Colorado Canyon has bizarre images on its walls that look like ancient temples, towers, ramparts and castles. Such drawings were made by the Colorado River, bizarrely washing out softbreeds and honing them. This spectacle is truly unique and indescribable, amazing in its images. So, here you can see the Throne of Vatan, the Temple of Shiva and the Temple of Vishnu and many other natural images that have already been named by man.
The largest canyon in the world in its palette has many colors and modulations. Depending on the shadow of the clouds and the location of the sun, the canyon shimmers with all colors - from purple-brown to black, from gray-blue to light pink. You can appreciate the beauty of the play of color only when you are in close proximity to this miracle of nature.
Colorado Canyon is also famous for its climatic conditions. At the top, the air rarely warms up more than 15 degrees, and at the bottom there is a hot earth, and the air temperature reaches 40 degrees.
How did the Colorado Canyon form?
It's hard to imagine that 10 million years ago the canyon was a plain made of soft rocks such as shale and limestone. The fracture of the earth's crust was formed under the influence of erosion, which was caused by the flow of the Colorado River. Great forces acted on the plain, and the river washed out meter after meter of rock, making its way, sinking deeper and deeper.
But today the construction of the canyon has not been stopped. Every day the river carries washed-out rocks in its turbulent course. Going down to the very bottom of Colorado, you can see the layers that make up the lowest part of the canyon. These are the oldest crystalline rocks and granite, whose age, according to some calculations, is more than twobillion years!
Description of the Colorado River
The Grand Canyon owes its origins to the Colorado River, and this builder cannot be overlooked when describing the canyon. Colorado - the greatest river, its length is 2334 kilometers, and it originates in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado (state). Its path is directed to the southwest, and from the Mead reservoir it turns sharply to the south. Crossing the border of Mexico, the river finds its mouth and flows into the Gulf of California, in the Pacific Ocean. But not everything is as simple as it seems. Not always Colorado can meet the ocean. Their last "kiss" took place in 1998, after a severe flood.
Colorado means "Red" in Spanish, and this name justifies its color. The river, rushing at a speed of more than 20 kilometers per hour, washes out more than half a million tons of rocks from the canyon in one day. A turbulent, muddy stream turns red as a result.
Lava Fole, the rapids of the river, is considered the fastest navigable in the world, and its neighbor - Lava Rapids - the most dangerous section. Until 1948, there were only 100 daredevils who were able to overcome the Colorado River, swimming along its entire length. Today, thousands of people annually spend their leisure time in the dangerous descent of the turbulent current.
How did you develop the canyon?
About four thousand years ago, Indians lived in the area of the canyon. The petroglyphs found in the thirties of the last century serve as proof of their residence here.(man-made images on the rocks).
The Spaniards were the first Europeans to visit the Colorado Canyon. The trip to these picturesque places took place in 1540, and they were attracted here by the opportunity to enrich themselves by obtaining an incredible amount of golden sand. However, all their labors were in vain, and the unfortunate gold diggers left the canyon empty-handed. There was an idea to conquer outlandish places, but the plans were not destined to come true, as the offended Spaniards could not overcome the canyon.
After 236 years after the stay of the first Europeans in Colorado, the described place was visited by a French monk. His name was Francisco Thomas Garces, and the purpose of his visit was to communicate with the local Indian tribes. The monk was amazed by the size and beauty of the place, and it was he who gave it the name - the Grand Canyon, that is, the Grand Canyon.
In 1948, this object came into the possession of the United States, and already in 1869 and 1871. Major John Powell made expeditions throughout the canyon, and made a complete description of it.
In 1870, Indian tribes living in these parts for many centuries were forcibly evicted.
Theodore Roosevelt, President of the United States, visited these places in 1903 and urged all his citizens not to touch the beauty created by nature, leave everything unchanged, and awarded the canyon and the river the status of a national monument.
In 1919, President Wilson supported Senator Harrison's project to create the Grand Canyon National Park. Since then, the name and status have remained unchanged.
Colorado River Bridge, 579 meters long, completed in 2010. He is onat a height of more than 250 meters above the river, and not only car drivers, but also pedestrians can appreciate the spectacle that opens up from it.
National Park
The Grand Canyon National Park in the United States has an area of 4930 square meters. It is conditionally divided into Northern and Southern regions.
The bottom of the canyon resembles the Mexican landscape, cacti, yuccas and agaves grow here. Higher up the slopes is already a completely different nature, dominated by oaks, willows, pines and junipers.
The fauna of the canyon is also diverse. There are more than 60 species of mammals and about a hundred species of birds in the park. Here you can find black-tailed deer, coyote, fox, lynx, puma, skunk, porcupine, rabbit, chipmunk, various goats and many other animals.
Tourism
The railway to the canyon was built at the end of the 20th century, and now this place is very popular with tourists.
All daredevils are offered a tour that will take from three days to three weeks. It is very dangerous, harsh and unpredictable, and all the adventures are prepared by the Colorado River itself. Many people visit the Grand Canyon for rafting along this waterway, there are many accidents here, but this does not stop tourists.
Also offers walking or bus tours. Everything is provided for visitors on the territory of the Grand Canyon: there are shops, cafes and hotels. So you can come to these places with the whole family, so that in the most beautiful naturalenvironment for a few days to relax from the hustle and bustle of the city.
All tourists are warned about possible fines upon entry. So, for a piece of paper thrown past the urn, you can give a thousand dollars!
Visual tours
In the 1940s and 50s, many passenger airlines made their way through the Colorado Canyon on purpose. In order for people to fully see all the beauty, the pilots made the so-called visual excursions, making several circles over the canyon, lowering the plane to an extremely low altitude. For this reason, in 1956, on June 30, two planes collided over the canyon and fell. More than 120 people died, and from this day on, such flights over the canyon are prohibited.
