There will never be a photograph of the Grand Canyon that can adequately describe its depth, breadth, and true beauty.
— Stefanie Payne
Date Created: February 26, 1919.
Location: Northern part of the U.S. state of Arizona.
Size: Approximately 1,217,403 acres (492,608 hectares).
The Grand Canyon is considered one of the seven wonders of the natural world. Rightly so. I visited the park about 20 years ago with my mother. Sitting in the front seat along side the helicopter pilot we banked over sheer canyon cliffs, flew along painted walls and skimmed the tops of plateaus on an exhilarating ride. In October (2023) I again stood in awe of this amazing place so strikingly vivid with panoramic colors. Hiking both portions of the North and South Rim was so mesmerizing that several times I just stopped to stare in wonder. The immense canyon at its lowest point is 6,000 feet deep and 18 miles at the greatest width. On this most recent trip, equally heart-thumping to the helicopter ride, I was chased by a wary mother elk. After a quick retreat I turned to return her glare, comforted by a scraggly tree between us. Experience is the best teacher. I definitely will think about my distance before invading the space of large wild animals. I also gained appreciation for pine nuts so expensive to purchase. Harvest is a labor of love!
