Situated in northwest Arizona, the Grand Canyon National Park surrounds numerous river tributaries, canyons, and lands.

It can be considered as one of the most visited national parks by tourists who come from all around the world. The Grand Canyon National Park has been recognized as an UNESCO World Heritage Site since the year 1979.

The most exotic feature of this park is the Grand Canyon, which is a gorge on the Colorado River. It covers an extensive area of about 1,901.97 sq mi (3,060.92 sq km) in the Mohave and Coconino counties. The Canyon was discovered and then explored by the Europeans, along with the Native Americans, in the year 1540. The Spanish settlers were the first Europeans to settle on the south rim trails. One of the first geologists to explore the Grand Canyon was John Newsberry and after him, a vast expedition detail was provided by John Wesley Powell.

Archaeologists have gathered evidence about the ancient cultures from the various objects that were used by the people who resided in the Grand Canyon village. Ancient pottery, sharp tools, stone houses, and various other artifacts disclose a lot of information about the native people who inhabited the Grand Canyon. Several pictographs of split-twig figurines were spotted in the Grand Canyon caves.

The contribution of many people, including U.S. government officials, presidents, and the United Nation workers, led to the protection of the Grand Canyon. A lot of effort was put into making the Grand Canyon a national park. In 1893, President Benjamin Harrison was the first person who took on this responsibility. He renamed it the Grand Canyon Forest Reserve. Later, President Theodore Roosevelt regarded it as a national monument in 1908, after his visit in 1903, which left him awestruck. Finally, the Grand Canyon was made a national park by President Woodrow Wilson in 1919. Read on to learn more about the Grand Canyon becoming a national park, and the significance it holds in the lives of those fortunate enough to witness its beauty up close and personal.

Why did the Grand Canyon become a national park?

The Grand Canyon is still considered to be one of the most beautiful places in the world and the second most visited national park. It garners a massive amount of over six million annual visitors, second only to the Great Smoky Mountains.

The Colorado River or the breathtaking view of the Canyon aren't the only things that make the Grand Canyon National Park famous. It is also the rich cultural history associated with it that dates back to over 1.7 billion years. It also contains our story; the story of evolution, and the story of how a seemingly worthless place became part of the national park service and Arizona's pride. Over a hundred years have passed since Teddy Roosevelt's (President Theodore Roosevelt) initiative created the National Park. He was astonished by the splendidness of the Grand Canyon and remarked to the crowd that the Grand Canyon filled him with awe and to keep this nature remain as it is. We will be exploring the reasons leading to why the Grand Canyon became a national monument and subsequently, received a national park status.

The formation of the Grand Canyon in north-west Arizona started about 70 million years ago. Owing to the immense size and extremely high elevation difference, the Grand Canyon is divided into north and south rims. The early settlers in the Grand Canyon hunted bighorn sheep and did farming near the Colorado River. The aesthetic beauty of the Canyon is enhanced due to the presence of the gorges along with the earthly colors of green and alpine. This further provided a great sight of the Colorado Plateau. It is often considered a great wonder of the world and possesses a unique piece of Earth's history. Private development in this natural wonder was not outlawed by Congress until 1919, when the Grand Canyon National Park Act was signed by President Woodrow Wilson. The geological survey of the Canyon pointed out that it is no less than a wonderland with enormous scenic beauty and is one of a kind in the whole wide world. Therefore, the Canyon attracts a lot of visitors, and different travel and tourism companies have come forth to give the tourists an amazing experience of the Grand Canyon National Park.

Why do we have National Parks?

What is the importance of the Grand Canyon? Simply put, a national park is a preserved piece of land and is available for public use by an act of the president or Congress. This means that it is closed to any private and industrial activities. As usual, our story for the preservation of the national treasure begins with the story of many pioneers, industrialists, etc. Bill Bass, Ralph Cameron, and Louis Boucher were the earliest pioneers.

It began back in the early 1800s with the purchase of the land by the U.S. Government. These lands, regardless of their beauty, historic importance, geography, were exploited to a great extent in the Gold Rush. The fundamental flaw of capitalism, which leaves everything destroyed in its wake just for the personal gain of a few, soon received mass criticisms from the general public and this sparked a new movement called 'democratic liberalism' in the late 1800s. Congress responded to the extreme capitalism in the country and enforced the Forest Service Act as social reform. It aimed at protecting the Yosemite, Sequoia, and Yellowstone national forests. With the enactment of this new law, many national parks were created, with Yellowstone being the first national park in 1919. Another act was passed by Congress in 1906, which was the Antiquities Act. This empowered the president to transform the already owned government lands into national monuments. Thus, the National Park Service was created in the year 1916, which is responsible for managing several national parks, including Crater Lake and Platte. Using the National Park Service Act, President Teddy Roosevelt made more than 800,000 acres of the area of the Grand Canyon, located in Arizona, into a national monument.

The Grand Canyon's Tourists

A large number of visitors from all over the world come to experience the picturesque Grand Canyon National Park. More than five million people view the Canyon from their cars along the south rim. Hermit's Rest, Grand Canyon Village, and the Desert View can be viewed from the south rim. In fact, the south rim is the most accessible part to the people, which ranges from 60 mi (97 km) north of Williams to 80 mi (129 km) northwest of Flagstaff. Many people, along with their children, set off to visit the north rim that lies just 10 miles away from the south rim.

The north rim of the Canyon does not allow many visitors due to the higher elevation level of the north than the south rim. Hikers, river runners, or people on mule rides on the canyon floor get to experience the vast inner canyon. Whitewater rafting, running, and other adventurous sports are extremely popular in this region among adults and children. A large number of people like to relax along the south rim of the Canyon, which is above 7,000 ft (2,133 m) above sea level, thereby marveling at the splendid view of Grand Canyon National Park. In order to cross the Colorado River, one has to follow the South Kaibab Trail on a 70 ft (21 m) long narrow footbridge. This trail can be crossed by automobiles, which can be arranged by your tourism company.

However, several environmental issues are faced by the managers of Grand Canyon National Park. Several endangered species, poor air quality, and the lack of fire management are some of the issues. Also, the visitation of a large number of people at the north rim and the south rim of the Canyon has inflicted severe damage to the park. The air quality is particularly degraded and obscures the scenic view of the rim during the summer months. An increased amount of sulfur dioxide in the air is one of the responsible factors for obstructed vision. Another major issue is the water of the Grand Canyon, which comes from outside the park. The Glen Canyon Dam, which is about 5 mi (24 km) upstream from the park is responsible for controlling the flow of the water of the Colorado River. The water level of the river increases due to the effect of this dam. Many researchers have concluded that this dam has greatly affected the river flow with increased sediment load and a lack of seasonal fluctuations. These problems may persist for a long time, thereby causing significant damage to the splendid Great Canyon and the enormous Colorado river.