The Grand Canyon isn't the deepest canyon in the world. Humans have inhabited the area in and around the canyon since the last Ice Age. The average depth of Grand Canyon is about 1 mile, from rim to river. Scientists estimate the canyon may have formed 5 to 6 million years ago when the Colorado River began to cut a channel through layers of rock. While the canyon, which is in Arizona, is one of the country's best known natural features, there may still be some things you never knew about it. Even though the average distance across the canyon is only 10 miles/ 16 km, it takes 5 hours to drive the 215 miles / 346 km between the park's South Rim Village and the North Rim Village. The Grand Canyon is one of the world’s most spectacular canyons, but … The year the original Jaws movie came out, visitors to the Grand Canyon rose by about 40%. Overall, the Grand Canyon Cavern and Inn is the oldest, deepest, darkest, and quietest motel in the world. Here are 10 facts that may surprise you about the national park. One night costs about $700. It is over 275 miles long and ranges in width from about 500 feet to 18 miles. The drive from Flagstaff takes about an hour and 20 minutes. Felix's Endless Journey/Flickr Sorry to start with a bummer of a fact. The closest major city to the Grand Canyon is Flagstaff, Arizona, which is about 81 miles away. The Grand Canyon contains the metamorphic rock Vishnu schist, and layers of sedimentary rock that date back to 1.75 billion years old — that’s nearly half the age of the Earth (4.5 billion years old)! Grand Canyon viewed from Hopi Point, on the south rim. As with the 9 Things You Didn’t Know About Yellowstone post, you may already know some of these items, but hopefully you’ll pick up a few new facts. One of the most interesting facts about the Grand Canyon has to do with its amazing age. Grand Canyon National Park is bigger than the state of Rhode Island. The Grand Canyon is a mile-deep gorge in northern Arizona. It covers 1,902 square miles and receives approximately six million visitors annually. The park’s central feature is the Grand Canyon, a gorge of the Colorado River, which is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. It Is Deep But Not The Deepest. Grand Canyon National Park covers an area of 4,926 square kilometers (1,902 square miles) or 492,608 hectares (1,217,262 acres). The Grand Canyon is also a popular day trip from Las Vegas, which is about 4.5 hours away. One of the most interesting facts about the Grand Canyon has to do with its amazing age. It serves the Havasupai Reservation and the town of Supai, and post arrives via mule on a 2 1/2 hour journey each day.Source New evidence suggests the western Grand Canyon was cut to within 70 percent of its current depth long before the Colorado River existed. Let’s run down some Grand Canyon fun facts and interesting tidbits. The greatest depths of the Grand Canyon lie more than a mile below its rim. The Grand Canyon Facts The Grand Canyon is in the United States of America. The Grand Canyon reaches a width of 29 kilometres across (18 miles) at one point, and is about 1800 meters (or 6000 feet) deep. At its deepest point, it is about 6,000 feet deep. 1-5 Grand Canyon Facts. The Grand Canyon is one of the natural wonders of the world, and for good reason. 1. There’s a Post Office at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon creates its own weather. The Grand Canyon National Park in northwestern Arizona was the 15th site to be named a national park in the United States. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979. Canyon Facts Is a chasm 277 miles long and up to 18 miles wide. The town of Williams is 59 miles south of the canyon. Throughout the Grand Canyon, there are more than 20 layers of rocks. The Grand Canyon contains the metamorphic rock Vishnu schist, and layers of sedimentary rock that date back to 1.75 billion years old — that’s nearly half the age of the Earth (4.5 billion years old)! Here are 10 facts that may surprise you about the national park. As Grand Canyon National Park celebrates its centennial during 2019, here are 100 things … While the canyon, which is in Arizona, is one of the country's best known natural features, there may still be some things you never knew about it. And it's large enough to hold countless facts, figures and historical details you probably never knew. Summer highs in the depths of the gorge can exceed 100ºF, and winter lows at the crest can dip to 0ºF. While still an impressive and accessible sight, the longest and deepest canyon is actually the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon in Tibet. The park’s main attraction is the Grand Canyon. Making our way to the Mather Point 3) The Grand Canyon is the home to rocks that date back to 2 billion years ago! The following are interesting facts about the Grand Canyon National Park. The Grand Canyon is one of the natural wonders of the world, and for good reason. However, if the Grand Canyon National Park was a state, it would be bigger than Rhode Island with a total area of 4,926 km². Here are 19 amazing Grand Canyon facts. 1. Of all Grand Canyon facts, this one is pretty cool – no pun intended.Sudden changes in elevation have an enormous impact on temperature and precipitation, so the weather you're experiencing could vary drastically depending on where you are in the Grand Canyon. Took 3-6 million years to form; erosion continues to alter its contours.