One of the Greatest Natural Wonders in the World

The United States is home to some of the planet's greatest natural wonders, and some of the most scenic vistas anywhere in the world. Near the top of this list is, of course, Arizona's Grand Canyon. A breathtaking slice in the middle of our country's colorful desert landscape, looking at the Grand Canyon is taking in over 3 billion years of geological history, not to mention one of the country's most successful tourist sites. Here's an introduction to the geography, history and business of the Canyon.

When you see the Grand Canyon, you cannot see it in its entirety. It is more than 270 miles long and at some points it is nearly 20 miles wide. It is well known to be over a mile deep in some parts-its rugged terrain defines the landscape for hundreds of miles around. It took six million years for it to form-the winding erosion of the Colorado River slowly cut into the face of the desert, producing the mighty absence with its persistence. The magnitude of the erosion has enabled scientists to see levels of rock laid down billions of years before humans ever lived. The study of the Canyon has dramatically advanced the science of geology.

This natural wonder has been studied for centuries. Humans first lived in the Canyon more than 10,000 years ago, moving on after some time-the last 4,000 years have seen steady habitation of the area by a number of tribes of America's First Peoples. The Hopi mythology says it's where souls go after death, and it has figured prominently in all the mythologies of the diverse people who have made the Canyon their home. European explorers first saw the Grand Canyon in the Sixteenth century, though no other White men saw the scenery until two hundred years later. Since then it has been surveyed, studied and loved by many Americans. It was made a National Park in 1919, after an 11 year battle with the region's mining interests, and the park expanded until reaching its current borders in 1975.

Mining hasn't been the big business here for nearly a century, with tourism pumping millions a year into the towns near the Grand Canyon. Almost nowhere else in the world is there a feature of nature so visited-tourists come from every continent to see it and wonder at its beauty. Five million people total see the Canyon each year, with thousands of them camping, hiking, riding mules into its depths and otherwise getting a full Grand Canyon experience. Others take advantage of fly over tours and easy to access viewpoints which allow them to see its majesty without so much work.

The Grand Canyon reminds us all of the beauty of the wide world around us and the weight of our history. Three billion years worth of Earth exposed for our sight over six million years, people have recognized how special a place it really is for 10,000 years. Check out the Canyon and its National Park today, and take it all in!

For more information on the Grand Canyon, visit http://grandcanyon.tv