Introduction
Grand Canyon National Park, located in northern Arizona, encompasses 277 miles of the Colorado River and adjacent uplands, forming a mile-deep gorge that exposes about 2 billion years of geologic history. Established in 1919 and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, it is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, offering rim-to-rim hiking, mule rides, and whitewater rafting, drawing over six million visitors annually.