The Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon is one of the most famous places in the world. It is a giant canyon in the state of Arizona in the United States. A canyon is a deep valley with steep sides. The Grand Canyon is so big that you can see it from space. It has colorful red, orange, and brown rock walls that look like stripes.

How It Was Made

The Grand Canyon was made by the Colorado River. The river has been flowing through the land for millions of years. Slowly, the water cut through the rock. Bit by bit, it washed the rock away. This made the canyon deeper and wider over time. Wind and rain also helped shape the rocks. The canyon is about 277 miles long. In some places, it is more than a mile deep.

Animals and Plants

Many animals live in the Grand Canyon. You can find mule deer, bighorn sheep, and coyotes. California condors fly high above the cliffs. Lizards and snakes sun themselves on the warm rocks. The canyon also has many plants, like cactus, pine trees, and wildflowers. People visit the canyon to hike, camp, and ride mules down the trails.

Fun Facts

• The Grand Canyon became a national park in 1919.
• About 6 million people visit the Grand Canyon every year.
• Some of the rocks in the canyon are almost 2 billion years old.

Did You Know?

The Grand Canyon is not the deepest canyon in the world, but it is one of the biggest. You could fit many tall buildings inside it and still have room to spare!