History and Rafting In the Grand Canyon
Taking a trip into the Grand Canyon is about more than traveling through a geographical region, it’s a trip through time. The outer layers of the Earth are like the rings of a tree, each layer showing an imprint from another year and era in time. Archaeologists have found traces of civilizations dating back 12,000 years but the Grand Canyon was being formed long before that.
Many million years ago, the desert region we now think of as the Southwest was a vast ocean. The region is interested geologically since it had previously cycled through two mountain ranges that both eroded into plains again before the area was submerged in water. Once again, the land began to rise and the water began to drain. The Colorado River was a reminent of this previous body of water and as the land around it rose, the river cut through the soft layers of sediment to create what we now know as the Grand Canyon.
Traveling down the Colorado River and understanding the history that went into forming the Grand Canyon is an amazing experience. It’s a thrill that has attracted thousands of tourists for the last century but long before that, it was a challenge for great explorers who were mapping the Southwest. The same rapids that tourists travel today were conquered first by explorers in bulky wooden boats that would have been wonderful to a trip up the Mississippi, but the Colorado River is an entirely different beast. Nathan Halloway was the first explorer to realize that the fluctuating width and depth of the river wouldn’t support any sort of bulky boat and took a lightweight, canoe like boat on the river for the first time. Few, if any, travelers have used anything since.
The Grand Canyon is listed as one of the Seven Wonders of the World for its beauty and its miraculous history. Being the geological landmark that it is, it’s unlikely that this wonder will be leaving us anytime soon, but that’s no excuse not to find the time soon to make an exploration out to this amazing piece of American history. Theodore Roosevelt found the time to travel to the park multiple times, while he was busy being the president of the United States! It’s a majestic experience that those who can visit it, definitely should take the opportunity to.
Learn More About Experiencing the History Yourself.
Please Contact:
Hatch River Expeditions
Toll Free: 1-800-856-8966
Local: 928-355-2241
Fax: 928-355-2266