Six Unknown Facts About The Grand Canyon

As a kid I had always imagined The Grand Canyon as the backdrop of an old John Wayne movie. When I finally got the chance to experience it in person a couple summers ago, it blew all expectations out of the water. There are a few sights you will/should see in your life that you literally can not look away from and The Grand Canyon is one of them. Standing on the edge of such an awe-inspiring, natural phenomenon, you can literally and spiritually feel a gravitational attraction. Its a feeling that no drug or man made substance can reproduce. I can’t help be imagine what the first settlers who stumbled across this epic hole in the ground must have thought.

I have compiled a list of six facts about The Grand Canyon that I find pretty interesting.

1. The Grand Canyon is not the deepest canyon in the world.

Clocking in around 7800 feet at its deepest point, The Grand Canyon is the deepest canyon in North America, but not the world. The Yarlung Tsango Grand Canyon in the Himalayas has it beat by nearly ten thousand feet, coming in at 17567 feet deep.

2. A canyon plane crash birthed the FFA (Federal Aviation Association) 

In the 1950s planes would often take longer scenic routes to get better views of the canyon. In 1956 two planes, one from Los Angeles and one from Chicago both requested to have the air space over the canyon at the same time. They collided over the canyon killing everyone on board and subsequently the FFA was formed to prevent any further miscommunications in the air.

3. The canyon reveals 40% of the earths history

The Colorado River cuts through a type of metamorphic rock called Schist that is nearly 1.75 billion years old. Geologist study the record of the earths history contained in the sedimentary rocks blanketing the Vishnu Schist. The canyons sediments have gone unaltered for near 230 million years. Although no dinosaur bones have ever been found inside of the canyon, many fossils and other signs of life, including 11,000 year old sloth bones, have been discovered in caves and canyon walls.

4. In 80 years of records nearly 100 people have died in the canyon

From 1925 to 2005 a recorded 53 people fell from the canyons walls to their deaths. Another 43 others died from other causes in the canyon.

5. The canyon houses its own species of rattlesnake

Their are 6 species of Rattlesnake found inside the canyon, but the Grand Canyon Pink Rattlesnake has adapted to its surroundings. It has a slightly pink skin tone which it uses to blend in with the surrounding reddish/pink rocks. It is the most commonly found species of Rattlesnake found in the canyon

6. The canyon has its own official web camera

Though you won’t see much going on, it does indeed offer a small piece of what its like to look upon the canyon. The camera points North from the souther rim at Yavapai Point and on a clear day you can see up to 225 miles. The camera also gives you some other useful information such as temp, wind speed, humidity and precipitation. If you would like to take a look you can view it Here.

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