The Grand Canyon

We used the Shuttles to all the different areas and saw so many different views. Here's Mather Point. 

This is one of the 7 Wonders of the World and now I know why. When you walk up to your first viewpoint and look out, your jaw just drops. There is a ton of information on how the 12 basic formations, from the Vishnu Basement Rocks in the Grand Canyon Supergroup, pushed through the Paleozoic rocks, causing the Colorado Plateau to rise and and the Canyon was carved during the last 5-6 million years.

This is the Hopi House, a gift store with lots of native handicrafts.

All viewpoints were spectacular. You can spot the Colorado River way down at the bottom very far away. The South Rim is 7000 above sea level. The whole Grand Canyon is 277miles/446kms river miles long, up to 18miles/29km wide and a mile/1.6km deep. It is a unique combination of color, size and dazzling sculpted rocks.

We found these funny little train cars at the train station. Railway buffs have bought these old track repairs cars, refurbished them and plan special excursions. They arrive in Williams, drive these, 2 people per car, (dodging the Grand Canyon Railway schedule ) up the same track to the Grand Canyon, a 2 1/2 hour trip. They stay for a couple of days in the canyon before going back.

We headed down to Tusayan to the Imax Theater. Grand Canyon - the Hidden Secrets, started with the Native American inhabitants, then Spanish explorers, the first Europeans to discover the Grand Canyon. Next was Major John Wesley Powell on his journey down the Colorado River in 1869. How he made it and the film crew made this, is beyond me - a white knuckle raft ride. It conclude with flights over majestic cliffs. This is a replica of the boat he used.