|
Grand Canyon |
 |
| Designation |
National Park |
| Location |
North West Arizona, United States |
| Nearest City |
Flagstaff, Arizona |
| Latitude |
36° 12' N |
| Longitude |
113° 14' W |
| Area |
1,217,403 acres
4,926.66 km² |
| Date of establishment |
January 11, 1908 (U.S. National Monument), February 26, 1919 (National Park) |
| Visitation |
3,936,823 (2002) |
| Governing Body |
National Park Service |
| IUCN category |
II (National Park) |
The Grand Canyon National Park is one of the oldest United States National Parks. Within the park lies the Grand Canyon, a gorge of the Colorado River, considered to be one of the major natural wonders of the world. The park covers 1,902 mi² (4927 km²).
The area around the Grand Canyon became a United States National Monument on January 11, 1908 and was designated National Park on February 26, 1919. The creation of the park was an early success of the environmental conservation movement; it was motivated in part by the flooding of what was considered an even more impressive gorge to create Glen Canyon Dam.
Grand Canyon National Park contains the largest valley system in the world, created by erosion from the Colorado River.
See also
Grand Canyon from Grandview Point
External links