The Grand Canyon can be found in northern Arizona and is truly one of the most awe-inspiring sites one will ever see. No amount of pictures can truly do it justice, nor make anyone fully comprehend the rich history of this absolute behemoth of nature.
First some numbers to boggle the mind; the Grand Canyon measures 446 kilometres in length, 29 kilometres in width and over 1800 metres in depth. Surprisingly for many, however, it is not actually the biggest canyon in the world – that honour goes to the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon in Tibet.
In terms of its history though, the Grand Canyon truly is on another level. Although the first Europeans to reach the canyon were Spanish explorers in the 1540s, Native Americans inhabited the area for thousands of years before that, building settlements within the canyon and its many caves.
To go even further back, it is believed that the area has been inhabited by humans since the last Ice Age, while scientists estimate that the Canyon itself was carved out between 5 and 6 million years ago, as erosion from the Colorado River cut a deep channel through layers of rock.
As the 26th US president, Teddy Roosevelt, once said, “The Grand Canyon is one of the great sights that every American should see.” Congress certainly took heed of the former President’s advice, declaring the area a national park just over 100 years ago. Nowadays, a staggering 6 million visitors visit the park every year.