Little Known Facts About The Grand Canyon Can Be Learned On A Colorado River Rafting Trip

Because the Grand Canyon is one of the seven natural wonders of the world, most people, especially residents in the United States, know quite a bit about it via TV shows, travel to the site, news and magazine articles, and stories from friends and relatives who have been there. In spite of that, most of us are completely ignorant of some of the most interesting facts and folklore about this amazing landmark. For those who have little to no interest in spending hours doing their own research, but who also love adventure, a Colorado River rafting trip can be a great avenue to satisfy curiosity and take an adventure packed vacation at the same time.

The exhilarating trips offered by White Water outfitters vary in length from as little as one day to two weeks and even more. While on the river, vacationers will marvel at exceptional scenery, and of course get wet and wild shooting the rapids. But during off river times, the guides, well versed in information about the Grand Canyon, love to share all they know with any interested visitors. There is so much fascinating information that is not common knowledge about this region, the history, the formation of the canyon and the relative youth of the Colorado River itself. So, if you're booking a Colorado River white water rafting trip, not only will you be in for the ride of your life, but you'll learn a ton about the history of the Canyon, its geology, its wildlife, and of course folklore.

The canyon is about 18 miles across at its widest point and averages a mile in depth from the rim. Traveling by river, you'll be one of the few who get to experience the canyon from the bottom up. As you cruise down the river, you'll be passing rock formations that scientists now believe took anywhere from three to six million years to form. The layers of rock that are visible at the bottom of the canyon can be billions of years old.

Geologic changes have taken place over eons of time, but the formation of this seventh wonder of the world was due to almost cataclysmic forces. Because much of the sedimentary rock in the canyon is found only on ocean floors or along shorelines, it is believed that much of this landmark's formation occurred as the oceans ebbed and flowed through it as continents drifted and landmasses rose and dropped over the ages. Erosion caused by the river's flow, along with ice movement and wind are still believed to be the major forces credited for creation of the spires and buttes that dominate the scenery.

During the formation, is now recognized by most that the course of the Colorado River has shifted multiple times. In spite of all that scientists and geologists already know, there is still no consensus on just when the mighty Colorado began to flow through the canyon, which way it was flowing, or where it has emptied at different times throughout its history.

Recent findings suggest that an abundance of volcanic activity has contributed to some of the rapid changes that have taken place, and may have been responsible for appearance and disappearance of huge waterfalls as well as the changes in the course of the river itself. While the river now flows to the southwest and is destined for the Sea of Cortez in the Gulf of California, some believe that at one time, it flowed north into Utah, across Nevada, and then ultimately emptied into the Pacific Ocean via California.

Wildlife abounds in the Canyon, and your river guide may tell you about the hundreds of species of birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians that make the place their home. During your trip, as you are sleeping under the stars, black bears, cougars, antelope and so much more will be out and about throughout the vast regions of the canyon. During the daylight hours, the California condor might buzz by as they are attracted to human activity. This is the only place on earth where these birds still fly freely, so if you do see one of the few remaining, you can count yourself very lucky.

Because the Canyon is so old, it's natural to assume that dinosaur bones must be there in droves, but the opposite is the case. While they've been found along the rim of the Colorado plateau, no dinosaur fossils have ever been dug up inside the Canyon.

It's common knowledge that this entire region is swelteringly hot during the summer months, but most people are probably unaware that this is also monsoon territory. The weather in the region can change very quickly, and heavy rains can create monstrous flash floods even during the hottest months of the year. Floods such as these have been responsible for changing the river's flow; rock slides caused by flooding can modify the course of the river thereby changing the flow in some areas. Entire waterfalls can disappear where others may suddenly appear, at least for a while. Because of man's intervention with the creation of the Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell, these floods are not nearly as torrential as before the dam was created. However, with human intervention, much of the cleansing effects of these floods no longer takes place either.

In short, there is so much to know about the Canyon. Getting your feet wet on the river, camping out and listening to your guide share information - that's the best way to experience the Grand Canyon and really get to know it.