Arizona is becoming increasingly popular as a warm retreat for retired Canadians and Americans from northerly states (known as Snowbirds) because of its climate and luxury housing. However, long before people began selling their Arlington, TX homes for condos in Scottsdale, Arizona was known the world over as the home of the Grand Canyon. To this day it remains a must-see attraction for anyone living in or visiting Arizona. This article should give you a brief overview of the Grand Canyon and its national park.

Size

The Grand Canyon is immense. Visitors expecting to arrive and see the entire thing will be disappointed, because it's impossible to do from the ground and difficult even from the air. The canyon is over 277 miles long. You could place all the homes in Brantford real estate side by side and they would fit inside of it. In some places it's only 4 miles wide, in others as much as 18, and at its deepest point it's more than a mile to the bottom. Though it is neither the widest, longest, or deepest canyon in the world, it's probably the most famous.

Geology

Geologists estimate that the processes which formed the Grand Canyon began more than 17 million years ago when the Colorado River began winding its way through the area, slowly eroding away the sandstone. There are eighteen different layers of rock exposed along the walls of the canyon, lending it an elegant striped look and making it an invaluable resource to geologists. Over 2 billion years of Earth's history are visible on the walls, so viewing it in daylighting from the bottom is a must.

How to See it

There are many different ways to see the Grand Canyon. Walking tours run along the South Rim, and backcountry camping passes are available. There's a glass bottomed platform you can visit on the west side. Train tours start in Grand Canyon Depot. Helicopter tours are popular and allow you to see more of the canyon by flying over gaps and horse fences that might get in your way on foot. Horse and donkey rides can get you to the bottom, and white water rafting offers you a way to view its length from the river at the bottom.

Getting There

A trip to the Grand Canyon from Mesa can work wonders for bringing families together, with results comparable to cognitive behavioural therapy in Oakville. Getting there from Mesa by car takes a while - approximately 4-5 hours, but is well worth the trip. The most direct route is via I-17 and the scenic route is along Arizona route 64. You can also get there by air, as the Grand Canyon has its own airport on the South Rim.