The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon.
(Source : http://redgreenandblue.org/files/2008/04/james-gordon-grand-canyon-flick.jpg)
The Grand Canyon during winter.
(Source : http://farm1.hv-static.flickr.com/110/279861903_b93d83ef4e.jpg)
The Grand Canyon.
(Source : http://mickyi.img.jugem.jp/20080609_176197.jpg)
Question 1:
What is this place?
- The Grand Canyon is a massive canyon carved over several million years by the Colorado River. Grand Canyon National Park boasts an elevation change of nearly 7,000 feet (2130 m) from Point Imperial (at nearly 9,000 feet or 2740 m) to the banks of Lake Mead (at just over 2,000 feet or 610 m). The canyon itself is, from rim to river over a mile (1610 m) deep. In spots the rock layers exposed in the canyon display over two billion years of geologic history.
Question 2:
Where is this place?
- The Grand Canyon is largely contained within the Grand Canyon National Park in the state of Arizona. The Grand Canyon National Park is one of the first national parks in the United States. There are two ways to approach the Canyon : the remote North Rim and the more accessible (and therefore more crowded) South Rim.
Question 3:
Why do tourists visit this place?
- Aside from casual sightseeing from the South Rim (averaging 7000 feet (2100 m) above sea level), white water rafting, camping, hiking, running and helicopter tours are especially popular. In October 2010 the North Rim is the host to an ultra marathon. The Grand Canyon Ultra Marathon is a 126km race over 24 hours.
The Coconino Canyon Train is another option for those seeking to take in a more leisurely view of the canyon. It is a 90-minute ride that originates in the Grand Canyon National Park at the old Grand Canyon Depot and travels 24 miles through the canyon landscapes.
Tourists wishing for a more vertical perspective can board helicopters and small airplanes in Las Vegas, Phoenix and Grand Canyon National Park Airport (seven miles from the South Rim) for canyon flyovers.
All types of tourist trinkets relating to the Grand Canyon, native American Indians, and the American Southwest are available in shops in Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim. The South Rim is overflowing with shopping options. The North Rim has only one shop located at the North Rim Lodge.
There are a variety of hotels, lodges, and campgrounds both inside and outside of the park on both the North and South Rims.
Star gazing is popular too. You can do that on your own (fantastic for meteor showers), or with the Grand Canyon Star Party every June at Yavapai Point.
The Grand Canyon Skywalk is a tourist attraction along the Colorado River on the edge of the Grand Canyon (Grand Canyon West). The horseshoe-shaped glass walkway stands at a 3,600 feet (1,100 m) height above the floor of the canyon, a height exceeding those of the world's tallest skyscrapers. The Skywalk is not directly above the main canyon, Granite Gorge, which contains the Colorado River. Instead it extends over a side canyon and affords a view into the main canyon.
Question 4:
What are the sources of information for this place?
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Canyon
http://www.grandcanyon.com/
http://www.thecanyon.com/
http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-191501873-grand_canyon_vacations-i
http://wikitravel.org/en/Grand_Canyon
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Canyon_Skywalk
http://www.destination360.com/north-america/us/utah/grand-canyon-national-park
(Qn 5: What are the dangers of this place?
- About 600 deaths have occurred in the Grand Canyon since the 1870s. Some of these deaths occurred as the result of overly zealous photographic endeavors, some were the result of airplane collisions within the canyon, and some visitors drowned in the Colorado River. Many hikers overestimate their fitness level, become dehydrated and confused, and must be rescued. The Park Service now posts a picture of an attractive and fit young man at several trailheads with the caption "Every year we rescue hundreds of people from the Canyon. Most of them look like him", in an attempt to discourage hikers from feats which are beyond their abilities.
According to Over the Edge: Death in the Grand Canyon, Myers, Thomas M. (2001), Over The Edge: Death In Grand Canyon, Puma Press, 53 fatalities have resulted from falls; 65 deaths were attributable to environmental causes, including heat stroke, cardiac arrest, dehydration, and hypothermia; 7 were caught in flash floods; 79 were drowned in the Colorado River; 242 perished in airplane and helicopter crashes (128 of them in the 1956 disaster mentioned below); 25 died in freak errors and accidents, including lightning strikes and rock falls; 48 committed suicide; and 23 were the victims of homicides.)
(Qn 6: How do human activities affect this place?
- The Grand Canyon has suffered some problems with air poulltion, attributed to the nearby Navajo Generating Station, a coal-burning power plant. In 1991 an agreement was reached with the Navajo Generating Station in Page, Arizona, to add air pollution control devices to their smokestacks.)
Done by : Chin Pei Wern 4D , Natalie Tan 4D
The Grand Canyon
Source: http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/commentary/dissection/2008/03/dissection_0307
Source: http://www.hoax-slayer.com/grand-canyon-skywalk.html
Angel Point at Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon (Spanish: Gran Cañón) is a steep-sided gorge carved by the Colorado River in the United States in the state of Arizona.
Where is this place? :
The Grand Canyon is largely contained within the Grand Canyon National Park, one of the first national parks in the United States. It is located in the United States of America, in Nothern Arizona.
Why do tourists visit this place? :
(a) Aside from casual sightseeing from the South Rim (averaging 7000 feet (2100 m) above sea level), whitewater rafting, hiking, running and helicopter tours are especially popular. In October 2010 the North Rim is the host to an ultramarathon. The Grand Canyon Ultra Marathon is a 126km race over 24 hours.
(b) Tourists also go to the Grand Canyon to camp there. Camping on the North and South Rims is generally restricted to established campgrounds and reservations are highly recommended, especially at the busier South Rim. There is at large camping available along many parts of the North Rim managed by Kaibab National Forest.
(When is the peak season for tourists?) :
The peak season for tourists runs from April through October. The winter holiday weekends are also crowded. In summers, the Grand Canyon is extremely crowded.
(What impact does tourism have on the environment of the Grand Canyon?) :
The environment would be affected by tourism in many ways. For instance, some of the litter that tourists leave behind cannot decompose. Some examples include plastic bags and crisp packets. Besides this, noises made by the tourists and other pollutants can also affect the way animals live and affect the local habitats.
What are the sources of information for this place? :
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Canyon#Grand_Canyon_tourism
-http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_impact_does_tourism_have_on_the_environment_of_The_Grand_Canyon (A netizen’s view of the impact tourism has on the environment of the Grand Canyon)
Done by: Lee Sae Yun 4D, Lim Yixian 4D
[Edit:
cougars at the Grand Canyon. ]
This falls under nature-based tourism, because tourists visit this place to enjoy the scenery of the Grand Canyon. There are also a lot of wildlife at the Grand Canyon, which makes it an ideal destination for wildlife lovers.
Natalie Tan 4D, Chin Pei Wern 4D
The Grand Canyon is nature based tourism, it has many mountains and natural formations that attract the tourists. They have natural features that offer scenic views which tourists can admire, and also enjoy the breathtaking view of the canyon.
kala,abigail,weeli