Grand Canyon National Park
Grand Canyon National Park is located in Arizona and was officially designated a national park in 1919. The canyon was created after the uplift of the Colorado Plateau. This allowed the Colorado River to carve the one mile deep gorge that is the Grand Canyon. The forces of wind, water, erosion and active faults all contribute to the never-ending formation of the Grand Canyon.
The geologic wonder that is the Grand Canyon has 40 exposed and identified rock layers that make up the walls of the Grand Canyon. The hard Coconino Sandstone, the Red Wall Limestone that make up the wall and the dry climate all contribute to the rapid downcutting and slow widening of the canyon. The continuous force of the Colorado River as well as flash floods and violent thunder storms are what erodes the rock walls to create the canyon that exists today.
The Grand Canyon is so massive that it influences the weather in and around the area. The temperature gradients that are caused by the rough terrain and elevation changes affect the amount of solar heating and air circulation throughout the canyon. The lower elevations have the highest temperatures during the day but the rapid heat loss at night can cause the temperature to drop 30 degrees in one day.
The mere size of The Grand Canyon takes your breath away. I can see why it has drawn people to it for 10,000 years. The colors of the rock create amazing vistas that go on for as far as the eye can see. For the explorer, there is the lure of what the canyon will reveal. The adventure seekers can be challenged by trails and the rivers rapids. The Grand Canyon simply inspires. https://www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Canyon_National_Park
Williams, Arizona
While visiting the Grand Canyon National Park we stayed in Williams, AZ. This town was founded in 1901 and is also known as the “Gateway to the Grand Canyon”. Williams is a cute little tourist town that celebrates the heyday of route 66. As you walk the streets the history of Route 66 is every were from the shops to the restaurants. Williams is also known as the last town on Route 66 to be bypassed by I-40 on October 13, 1984. If you are a Route 66 fan Williams, AZ is a must see.