Its magnitude and unusual landscape can only be experienced by oneself. American Indians have lived in and around the canyon for thousands of years
The Battle Ship
Bright Angel Trail
Grandeur Point (elev. 7,037 feet)
The canyon averages 10 miles wide and about a mile deep
Most geologists believe that the canyon is about six million years old
The canyon was carved by the Colorado River, which originates in the mountains of Wyoming and Colorado
The canyon's oldest rock layers (at the bottom of the canyon) are at least 1.7 billion years old
The Colorado River (left)
The Colorado River was called River of the blue-green waters by rthe Havasupai Indians
The Colorado River has remained relatively narrow over the last six million years
The Colorado River is surprisingly cold. Even in summer it is 50 degrees Fahrenheit at its warmest
Unkar Delta - The red banks of the river are Dox Sandstone
The Colorado River is known for its furious rapids and drops 1,900 feet on its ever-narrowing path through the Canyon from Lee's Ferry to Lake Mead
Joan with long-time friend Paul and his wife Alex
Bright Angel Lodge (left) and Lookout Studio (right)
A Hopi Indian Hoop Dancer manipulates the hoops to portray himself as different animals and birds
The Hopi House (1905), designed by Mary Jane Colter to resemble a Hopi pueblo building
The Yavapai Watchtower designed by Mary Jane Colter in 1930 to mimic an Anasazi watchtower
The Watchtower was constructed with each stone handpicked for size and appearance. Weathered faces were left untouched to give the tower an ancient look