The Geology of the Grand Canyon
The earth is vast, filled with beautiful natural wonders such as majestic mountain ranges, gaping canyons, and endless stretches of unexplored oceans and land. It is sometimes not enough to simply experience these gorgeous sights; soon you will find that understanding them can be even more awe-inspiring. Fortunately, geologists have long been studying the earth’s surface and climates in order to understand all its weird and wonderful shapes and why certain wonders were created, oftentimes over millions of years. The Grand Canyon in Arizona, USA has long been on the Natural Wonders of the World list, and for good reason. Although breathtakingly beautiful and grandiose, the geology of the Grand Canyon is still extremely impressive from a historical standpoint. The Grand Canyon has long been a showcase for geology, and because geology is the study of the earth, its materials, and the naturally occurring processes that create these materials, the sequences of the Grand Canyon’s rock formations are one of the most intensive and complete studies in the world. Here are a few interesting facts about the geology of the Grand Canyon: ¹ 1. A recent study in 2012 by The Science Journal suggests that the canyon could be almost 70 million years old, as opposed to the prior belief that it was around 6 million years old. The former estimated age of the canyon was determined by the age of the Colorado River running through it. 2. The Colorado River, running through the canyon, has carved the Grand Canyon into four plateaus, all of which can be viewed from a Grand Canyon helicopter tour for optimum visibility and recognition of the various plateaus. 3. There are around 40 sedimentary rock layers exposed in the Grand Canyon, making it a diverse and thorough educational site for geology study. 4. Some of the rock layers were deposited due to ancient oceans, shorelines, and even sand dunes. 5. Due to climate change, the movement of the earth’s crust, wind, snow, and rain, the Grand Canyon is constantly evolving and changing, as well as growing wider. Drastic changes in the canyon can take millions of years to become visible, but there are still enough changes in the rock formations and sediments to be noticed and studied by geologists regularly. ² 6. About 3 million years ago, volcanic activity began in the Western Grand Canyon creating naturally-occurring dams in the Colorado River due to around 150 overflows of basaltic lava. 7. The Grand Canyon is 277 miles long, around 18 miles wide and 6,000 feet deep, making it one of the largest canyons in the world.
8. The further down into the canyon you travel, the older the rock formations, with the bottom rocks being dated at 1.84 billion years old. 続 The Grand Canyon is full of enthralling geological facts ,and if you take one of the Grand Canyon helicopter tours with Papillon, you will be able to not only view the Grand Canyon National Park in all its majestic glory, but the tour guide will explain various geological aspects of the canyon to you. This makes for an exciting and educational trip for the whole family. Experiencing the historical and geographical awe of the Grand Canyon from the air is an experience unlike any other. If you would like the once-in-the-lifetime experience of seeing the Grand Canyon National Park and the Grand Canyon West by air, then contact us for bookings here.