Grand Canyon Facts

Grand Canyon Facts for kids: Fast Fact Sheet
Fast, fun facts for kids about the Grand Canyon:

How big is the Grand Canyon? 277 miles (446 km) long, widest point is 18 miles (29 km), narrowest point is 4 miles wide and it is more than a mile (6,000 feet) deep

How was the Grand Canyon formed? By erosion, water, rock and climate. The Colorado River carved the depth of the Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon Facts and Info for kids : Geology Facts, info and Skywalk Facts
Interesting description and brief facts about the Grand Canyon are detailed in the geology and skywalk Fact Sheets. The Grand Canyon Facts are presented in a factual sequence consisting of a series of short facts providing a simple method of relating the interesting information about the Great Grand Canyon. For historical info refer to the Grand Canyon History Timeline.

Grand Canyon Facts and Info on the Skywalk: Basic, Brief Facts for kids via the Fact Sheet
Interesting info, description and brief facts about the Grand Canyon and the famous Skywalk.

Grand Canyon Facts for Kids

Grand Canyon Fact 1: This awe-inspiring Grand Canyon National Park is located in the State of Arizona, close to the borders of Utah and Nevada. .

Grand Canyon Fact 2: It is 277 miles (446 km) long

Grand Canyon Fact 3: Its widest point is 18 miles (29 km) and its narrowest point is 4 miles wide

Grand Canyon Fact 4: It is more than a mile (6,000 feet) deep

Grand Canyon Fact 5: The area of this famous National Park is 1,902 sq miles (4,926 km²)

Grand Canyon Fact 6: It is 2 billion years old - much older than the dinosaurs

Grand Canyon Fact 7: The Colorado River runs through the Grand Canyon and has been eroding its steep sides for millions of years. The Colorado River established its course through the gorge at least 17 million years ago

Grand Canyon Fact 8: The Grand Canyon is important because not only is it one of the Wonders of the Natural World, it is also an important site for geological research due to the many types of rock that are visible.

Grand Canyon Fact 9: Over 5 million people visit the area every year to enjoy the breath taking scenery and enjoy pursuits such as hiking, sightseeing, rafting, climbing and camping.

Grand Canyon Fact 10: It is illegal to excavate, relocate, and/or remove fossils from the National Park.

Grand Canyon Fact 11: Nobody has ever found a fossilized reptile skeleton within the Grand Canyon area although fossil footprints were left by more than 20 species of reptiles and amphibians.

Grand Canyon Fact 12: The Sipapuni is a natural formation on the Little Colorado River and features in the creation myths of some Native Americans. Sipapuni is the  Hopi term for "Place of Emergence".

Grand Canyon Fact 13: Native American Indian Tribes have occupied the Grand Canyon area for many hundreds of years. The six major Native American Indian Tribes are the Havasupai, Zuni, Hopi, Paiute, Navajo and the Hualapai.

● The Zuni, a Pueblo Tribe. Ribbon Falls and Thunder River Falls are sacred destinations to the Zuni
● The Hopi, a Pueblo Tribe. The Hopi village of Oraibi is the oldest continuously inhabited village in the United States and has been occupied since at least 1100 AD
● The Kaibab Paiute Indians believe that the sacred land of Puxant Tuvip was where the Southern Paiute people were created
● The Navajo have inhabited the area since the late 1500's
● The Hualapai, meaning “People of The Tall Pines,” are the native people of the Southwest who believe the area is sacred and is featured in their creation myths
● The Havasupai, meaning "people of the blue-green waters" have occupied the area for over 800 years

Grand Canyon Fact 14: The steep sides and slopes abound with the shapes of towers, temples, columns, and pyramids. The north rim rises a thousand feet higher than the South Rim.

Grand Canyon Fact 15: The area contains 90 species of mammals, 45 types of reptiles, 9 species of amphibians and 350 species of birds. Species of animals in the area include the Mountain Chickadee, Coyotes, Porcupines, Bears, Squirrels, the Bobcat, Mule Deer and Chipmunks

Grand Canyon Fact 16: Because of the vast ranges of altitude and terrain, the Grand Canyon has many climate zones. Temperatures can range from below zero in places to over 100 degrees. The North Rim is only open to visitors in the late spring, summer, and early fall.

Grand Canyon Fact 17: It is the third largest canyon in the world, exceeded by Barranca de Cabre in Northern Mexico and Hell's Canyon in Idaho

Grand Canyon Fact 18: The oldest human artifacts in the area are estimated to be 3000 to 4000 years old

Grand Canyon Fact 19: Skywalk Facts: The u-shaped glass Grand Canyon walkway opened in 2007 and was heralded as feat in engineering. It took 4 years to build the bridge and cost $30 million dollars.

Grand Canyon Fact 20: Skywalk Facts: The glass bottomed structure allows tourists to walk 70 feet past the edge of the Grand Canyon and
stand 4,000 feet above the Colorado River. Definitely not for the feint-hearted!

Grand Canyon Fact 21: Skywalk Facts: It is 10 feet wide and 70 feet long. The floor and walls are made of glass. The glass walls are approximately 5 to 7 feet high.

Grand Canyon Fact 22: Skywalk Facts: The fantastic views from the glass walkway attract 2 million visitors per year.

Grand Canyon Fact 23: Skywalk Facts: The idea was conceived by a Las Vegas businessman called David Jin who obtained agreement from the Hualapai Tribe for the project.

Grand Canyon Fact 24: Skywalk Facts: The glass walkway was designed by Lochsa Engineering & MRJ Architects and built by Executive Construction Management

Grand Canyon Fact 25: Skywalk Facts: Numerous tests were made to ensure its safety checking the strength of the rock and its ability to withstand high winds.

Grand Canyon Fact 26: Skywalk Facts:  60 to 120 people are allowed on the Skywalk at one time, although it can support 800 people.

Grand Canyon Fact 27: Skywalk Facts: It is located, not in Grand Canyon National Park, but at Grand Canyon West, on the Hualapai Indian Reservation

Grand Canyon Facts for Kids

Grand Canyon Facts and Info : Fast Facts for kids via the Geology Fact Sheet
Interesting info,  description and brief facts about the Grand Canyon are detailed in the Geology Fact Sheet. For historical info refer to the Grand Canyon History Timeline.

Grand Canyon Facts for kids: Geology Fact Sheet

Grand Canyon Fact 1: Formation: The canyon was originally shaped by climate changes that created swamps, deserts and inland seas.

Grand Canyon Fact 2: Formation: The many changes to the environment created many different colored layers of rock, one on top of the other.

Grand Canyon Fact 3: Geology: There are 12 distinctive multi-colored layers of rock that provide a timeline of the rock formation. The age is measured by indicating the 'my', meaning the number of million years old. The following chart shows the names and the time periods associated with the layers of rocks. The oldest level is the Vishnu basement.

Names: Millions of years old - Colors

Vishnu basement: 1,840–1,680 my - Dark Gray or Black

Grand Canyon Supergroup: 1,250–740 my - Dark Brown

Tapeats Sandstone: 525 my - Dark Brown

Bright Angel Shale: 515 my - Green, gray, brown and tan

Muav Limestone: 505 my - Gray

Temple Butte Formation: 385 my - Purple, gray and cream

Redwall Limestone: 340 my - Red and dark brown

Supai Group: 315–285 my - Red, brown and tan

Hermit Formation: 280 my - Red and rust

Coconino Sandstone: 275 my - White and cream

Toroweap Formation: 273 my - Yellow to gray

Kaibab Formation: 270 my - Cream, grayish white

Grand Canyon Fact 4: Names: Many of the names associated with the Grand Canyon are highly descriptive, other names relate to people or events. Some names are exotic and taken from Hindu, Egyptian, Greek, Norse and other ancient civilizations. Of the 230 place names at the Grand Canyon, twenty-five are Native American names.

Grand Canyon Fact 5: Vishnu basement: The Vishnu basement layer is about 1,840 to 1,680 million years old, originally consisting of sediments of sandstone, limestone, shale and granite that combined with lava flows to form the schist. The colors of this layer are dark gray or black. Vishnu is the name of an important Hindu deity and means "the Preserver"

Grand Canyon Fact 6: Grand Canyon Supergroup: The Grand Canyon Supergroup layer is about 1,250 to 740 million years old. It consists of thick group of basaltic rocks that flowed as lava and deposited on top of the schist and granite.The colors of this layer are dark brown.

Grand Canyon Fact 7: Tapeats Sandstone: The Tapeats Sandstone layer is about 525 million years old, consisting of medium and coarse sandstone. The upper layer rocks are marked by ripple marks formed by prehistoric ocean waves. The colors of this layer are dark brown.

Grand Canyon Fact 8: Bright Angel Shale: The Bright Angel Shale layer is about 515 million years old, consisting of mudstone shale and sandstone. The colors of this layer are green, gray, brown and tan.

Grand Canyon Fact 9: Muav Limestone: The Muav Limestone layer is about 505 million years old, consisting mainly of limestone, separated by layers of sandstone and shale. The colors of this layer are gray.

Grand Canyon Fact 10: Temple Butte Formation: The Temple Butte Formation layer is about 385 million years old, consisting of purple freshwater limestone in the east and gray or cream dolomite in the west.

Grand Canyon Fact 11: Redwall Limestone: The prominent Redwall Limestone layer is about 340 million years old, consisting of limestone and dolomite. The colors of this layer are deep red caused by iron oxides and also dark brown

Grand Canyon Fact 12: Supai Group: The Supai Group layer is about 315 to 285 million years old, originally consisting of sediments of sandstone, limestone and shale. The colors of this layer are red, brown and tan. The word Supai is derived from the Havasupai Reservation.

Grand Canyon Fact 13: Hermit Formation: The Hermit Formation layer is about 280 million years old, and consists of soft shale that have eroded into slopes. The colors of this layer are red and rust.

Grand Canyon Fact 14: Coconino Sandstone: The Coconino Sandstone layer is about 275 million years old, consisting of quartz sand. The colors of this layer are white and cream. Coconino is the Hopi word for Havasupai and Yavapai Indians

Grand Canyon Fact 15: Toroweap Formation: The Toroweap Formation layer is about 273 million years old, consisting of sediments of sandstone and shale. The colors of this layer range from yellow to gray. Toroweap is a Paiute term meaning "dry or barren valley".

Grand Canyon Fact 16: Kaibab Formation: The Kaibab Formation layer is about 270 million years old, originally consisting of sandstone, and shale. The colors of this layer are cream and grayish-white. Kaibab is a Paiute Indian word meaning "mountain lying down".

Grand Canyon Fact 17:

The Precambrian Era is 4540 to 544 million years ago
The Paleozoic Era is 542 To 251 million years ago
The Mesozoic Era is 251 To 65.5 million years ago
The Cenozoic Era is 65.5 million years ago to present

Grand Canyon Facts for kids: Geology Fact Sheet

Grand Canyon Facts for kids - President Theodore Roosevelt Video
The article on the Grand Canyon Facts provides detailed information of one of the most beautiful places in America. The following video will give you additional important facts and dates about the political events experienced by the 26th American President whose presidency spanned from September 14, 1901 to March 4, 1909.

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