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About the Grand
Canyon, Arizona
The Grand Canyon leaves
all who experience it with a sense of wonder,
magic and awe. From its dramatic 1500 m (5000
ft) deep, 446 km (277 mi) long, and up to 29 km
(18 mi) wide gorge, to its diverse plateaus, towers
and hills, the Grand Canyon is one of the world's
most stunning destinations. Rich with exceptional
beauty, ancient geological history and modern
universal amazement, the Grand Canyon attracts
more than 5 million tourists each year.
Just 247 miles north of
Phoenix, Arizona, the Grand Canyon is frequently
a destination for Arizona visitors. The number
of things to do in the Grand Canyon is countless.
Experience the majestic beauty of the Grand Canyon
for yourself. Take a trip down the Colorado River
and see deep into the Grand Canyon's characteristic
gorge. Marvel at the layer upon layer of rock,
piled like a stack of pancakes. Float down the
river on a expertly guided tour and watch wildlife
surrounded by tiers of limestone, sandstone, and
shale excavated by the Colorado River and over
half a billion years of wind, water and energy.
See the Grand Canyon as
the eagle does and soar above the plateau on a
helicopter or airplane tour. Fly around towering
buttes, mesas, and valleys within the Grand Canyon's
main gorge. Soar over dense evergreen forests
of juniper and piñon, or arid plateaus
speckled with desert plants like agave and Spanish
bayonet. The Grand Canyon plateau region's forests
are segmented by old lava flows, hills of volcanic
debris and intrusions of igneous rock. Seeing
the Grand Canyon by air is an unforgettable adventure
with a unique perspective.
You may choose to experience
the Grand Canyon by land. Walk in the footsteps
of ancient peoples and explorers that first discovered
the Grand Canyon. Make your own adventure or take
a guided hike or horseback tour. Or choose one
of the area's popular jeep or bus tours and allow
area experts to open your eyes to the Grand Canyon's
endless wonders.
Dotted amongst the communities
that surround the Grand Canyon, tourists seeking
lodging will find charming bed and breakfasts,
grand hotels and lodges, resorts, cabins, vacation
rentals and more. Whatever you fancy as the perfect
accommodation, Grand Canyon lodging is your dream
come true.
You will also find restaurants,
shopping, art galleries, and other services in
the communities of the Grand Canyon area. Find
yourself wandering through quaint boutiques, art
and shopping areas. Discover one-of-a-kind hand-made
treasures and enjoy the thrill of selecting a
special souvenir.
And if you've spent some
time in the Grand Canyon and you think you've
done all there is to do, there are even more attractions
just a short drive away. Dramatic Sedona is less
than two hours south, scenic Flagstaff is about
80 miles southeast, and historic Prescott is two
hours away, just south of Sedona. And just 4.5
hours south in the Valley of the Sun, one could
get lost forever in the numerous activities offered
in Scottsdale, Phoenix, Cave Creek and Carefree.
Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport and Las Vegas are frequent
choices for commercial air travel, and both Grand
Canyon Airport and Flagstaff's Pulliam Airport
are available for private commuter and tour company
planes.
What climate should you
expect on the Coconino and Kaibab plateaus, the
North and South Rim? At 1500 and 2700 km (5000
and 9000 feet ) above sea level, the climate of
the plateau region above the Grand Canyon can
swing between extremes of heat and cold. The canyon
floor can also exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit in
the summer, but seldom experiences frost in the
winter. Regardless of the weather, the Grand Canyon
is one of the world's favorite sites year-round.
Visit the Grand Canyon and see why it has been
the stuff of wonder for centuries of adventurers,
vacationers, artists and explorers.
More About the
Grand Canyon
In July 1989 Secretary
of the Interior Manuel Lujan directed Reclamation
to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
regarding the operation of the Glen Canyon Dam.
Thus, more than a quarter-century after the floodgates
of the dam closed, its environmental effects were
to be judged scientifically. Under the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, which authorizes
the EIS process, cultural resources are an aspect
of the environment worthy of study and consideration,
just as are natural resources. The EIS for Glen
Canyon Dam operations therefore mandated scientific
studies of cultural resources within the area
potentially affected by water releases. Further
Glen Canyon Dam operations are considered a federal
undertaking that either directly, indirectly or
potentially affect cultural resources. Acknowledgement
of this enacts the National Historic Preservation
Act of 1992 (amended) (NHPA). Under Section 106
of this act the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation)
is responsible for the impacts to cultural resources
caused by dam operations and National Park Service
(NPS) is dually responsible for these cultural
resources under Section 110 of NHPA.
In a joint venture, Reclamation
and NPS decided that the first step in the EIS
process with respect to cultural resources was
to conduct an intensive inventory of archaeological
sites in the river corridor. The area surveyed
encompassed a 255-mile stretch of the river corridor,
extending from Glen Canyon Dam to Separation Canyon.
The vertical extent of the survey area was the
riverine environment that incorporated all terrestrial
river-derived sediments below the estimated 300,000
cfs level, as well as a few areas of eolian sand
dunes lying slightly above this level.
The survey was conducted
from August 24, 1990 to April 30, 1991. During
this time some 1,968-person days were spent surveying
about 10,506 acres. A total of 475 archaeological
sites and 489 isolated occurrences of artifacts
or features were located and recorded. Regarding
the impacts of Dam operations on archaeological
sites, it was judged initially that 336 of the
475 recorded sites existed in locations that could
potentially be adversely affected by changing
water releases. Since 1992, the NPS archaeologists
monitoring sites have been able to refine site
impact categories identified by Fairley et al.
1994. To date, 264 sites are considered affected
(directly, indirectly, potentially and cumulatively)
by the operations of Glen Canyon Dam.
It is sufficient to note
that the cultural monitoring program has operated
from its inception within a complicated framework
of laws, regulations, and other directives that
are not always in accord with one another. At
times, there has been an inherent conflict between
complying with the provisions of Section 106 of
NHPA (mitigating the effects of a federally sponsored
undertaking), while at the same time recognizing
and adhering to long-standing NPS policies (i.e.,
Section 110 of NHPA) regarding the "preservation-in-place"
of cultural resources.
Therefore, a crucial document
created to guide Reclamation's Section 106 compliance
in conjunction with other NPS legal mandates is
the 1994 Programmatic Agreement (PA). This PA,
regarding the operation of the Glen Canyon, was
signed by officials of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
(Reclamation), the Advisory Council on Historic
Preservation (ACHP), the Arizona State Historic
Preservation Officer (SHPO), the U.S. National
Park Service (NPS), and six Indian Tribes and
Nations -- the Hopi Tribe, the Hualapai Nation,
the Kaibab Paiute Tribe, the Navajo Nation, the
Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah for the Shivwits Paiute
Tribe, and Zuni Pueblo -- with an interest in
the affected cultural resources listed on the
National Register of Historic Places. Implementation
of this agreement fulfills Reclamation's responsibilities
for Section 106 of NHPA relative to Glen Canyon
Dam operations and also satisfies NPS needs.
The PA outlines the
responsibilities of Reclamation for the mitigation
of these adverse effects under Section 106 of
NHPA, spelling out the responsibilities of the
RCMP as follows:
The purpose of the Monitoring and Remedial Action
Plan shall be to generate data regarding the effects
of Dam operations on historic properties, identify
ongoing impacts to historic properties within
the APE [Area of Potential Effect], and develop
and implement remedial measures for treating historic
properties subject to damage.
Currently, all work conducted by archaeologists
has been completed under stipulations in a Monitoring
and Remedial Action Plan (MRAP). The processes
delineated in the MRAP guide the ongoing process
for the identification, monitoring, and remedial
actions on cultural resources impacted, or potentially
impacted, as a result of the operations of Glen
Canyon Dam.
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