Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon

The United States' peanut butter consumption every year can cover the entire Grand Canyon floor. This does not only prove how appealing peanut butter is to the American consumers, but also, just how huge this national park is.

Situated northwest of Arizona, the world's 3rd natural wonder encompasses a land of more than 1 million acres. Since most people use miles to measure the Grand Canyon, it is then 277 miles long. The Colorado River, which carves it out along with several other canyons, is actually longer in length. But the Grand Canyon remains to be the most magnificent among them, according to most people.

For those who want to get to the canyon's bottom on foot, the journey would require two days. Hikers who travel from the South Rim to the North Rim usually spend three days each way. Taking a raft trip through the canyon may take longer than two weeks. There are expert backpackers who have stayed in the Grand Canyon's secluded areas for weeks.

Even though there are a lot of rescues done from failed rim-to-rim hikes, this is still a highly-recommended endeavor for those who are fit to do so. Since the weather plays a crucial role in these trips, accurate weather forecasts are necessary. Thus, even if the Grand Canyon National Park has weather information posted in several places, this is not advisable to be used as basis for planning a trip.

The Grand Canyon may be frequently-visited by guests of all ages, however, it is exceptionally well-known to the endurance athletes who are always seen running across it. It is also a handicapped-friendly park as it offers the use of wheelchairs to its visitors for free.

Because the Grand Canyon is an amazing and a tempting place to test one's physical abilities in, it has had some share of fatalities. Since 1870, there are around 600 recorded deaths that occurred within the park. Not bad, but some of these could have well been prevented had people stayed within their level of fitness.

But the fatalities were nothing compared to the number of people who visit the Grand Canyon every year. Almost 5 million guests troop to see the view from the South Rim. A lesser number visit the North Rim partly because it offers a lesser accessibility than the South one.

Even if you're not the adventurous type, the Grand Canyon still beckons and holds something interesting for you. Otherwise, why would it belong to the world's most spectacular natural wonders?