Grand Canyon Visual Author:John F. Hoffman Stunning full color and extremely informative book! Includes maps. — Geography: Nearly 278 miles long, varying in width from less than a mile to more than 18 miles, and in places greater than a mile deep, the Grand Canyon is one of the World's most impressive natural features. — Geology: Revealed in the Canyon's walls are... more » nearly 2 billion years of the Earth's geologic history, from late Precambrian time through the Mesozoic era.
Wildlife: There is a rich variety of plant and animal life at the Grand Canyon-six biotic communities in four life zones-due to its great altitudinal range, spanning climatic conditions from desert to subarctic.
History: Discovered by Spanish explorers in 1540-only 48 years after Columbus found the New World -- the Grand Canyon was first under Spain, then Mexico, and finally the United States, which in 1919 set aside the Canyon as a national park.
South Rim: Most of the Canyon's tourist facilities and services are centered on the South Rim, where the Park's principal administrative offices are also located.
North Rim: High and remote, the North Rim receives nearly eleven feet of snow each winter, and has a short tourist season with limited visitor facilities.
Benchlands: Between the Canyon's rims and the inner gorges of the Colorado lie two benchlands: the Tonto Platform, and the Esplanade.
Havasu Canyon: Four large waterfalls grace Havasu Canyon, a major side gorge of the western Grand Canyon and the site of Supai, the Havasupai Indian village.
Colorado River: Principal river of the American Southwest, the Colorado is the master carver of the Grand Canyon.« less