One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, the Grand Canyon is one of nature’s greatest wonders. Two billion years of geological evidence of Earth’s history is exposed in the rock walls of the Canyon. Traveling the Canyon’s length requires a river journey of 277 miles, through canyons varying in width from less than a half mile to more than 18 miles and through depths that reach 6000 feet below the Canyon’s rim in places. We had the privilege to view the wonders of the Grand Canyon from both the South Rim and also from the air when we took an excellent one hour flight from the Grand Canyon Airport in a twin engine Otter aircraft which, with its low stalling speed, made an ideal platform for viewing the Canyon from all angles.
Our party in awesome wonder on the South Rim of the Canyon
A wonderful view of the Canyon from the Air
Our Hotel (the Grand) at the Grand Canyon village taken from the aircraft during our flight
The Canyon is home to the Colorado River and its tributaries. As the river flows through the Grand Canyon, from Lees Ferry to Lake Mead, it drops about 1900 feet in elevation, an average of more than seven feet per mile. The river averages between 200 and 300 feet in width and is 60 feet at its narrowest. So after a wonderful two night stay, we moved out heading for the Hoover Dam and Las Vegas on the next stage of our “tour”.
