Another day at Grand Canyon, but at the South Rim. The average distance across the North Rim and South Rim canyon “as the condor flies” is ten miles (16 km). However, traveling requires a five-hour drive of 215 miles (345 km). Therefore, we do not have enough time to visit the North Rim.
At the Desert Tower Point.
“…..Building a structure that provides the widest possible view of the Grand Canyon yet harmonizes with its setting was architect Mary Colter's goal when the Santa Fe Railroad hired her in 1930 to design a gift shop and rest area at Desert View Point. The Watchtower opened in May of 1933. ….”
We then drive to Page to visit the Antelope Canyon. It is one of my wish list since I saw some pictures from my friend two years ago. It is a fascinating place. We visit only the Upper Antelope Canyon by buying a tour cost around USD 26 per person. Since it is the last tour of the day, there is no other tourist in our group except our guide’s family. So we all enjoy the tour.
http://www.navajonationparks.org/htm/antelopecanyon.htm
Excerpt from the website:
Gently carved from the Navajo sandstone over the course of countless millenniums, the slot canyons are majestic and narrow passages, just enough space for a small group to walk the sandy floor - and for the occasional shafts of sunlight to shine down from above.
The Navajo name for Upper Antelope Canyon is Tse' bighanilini, which means "the place where water runs through rocks." Upper Antelope is at about 4,000 feet elevation and the canyon walls rise 120 feet above the streambed.
Though dry most of the year, Antelope Canyon runs, and sometimes floods, with water after rains. It is the water, slowly wearing away the sandstone grain by grain, that has formed the beautiful and graceful curves in the rock. Wind has also played a role in sculpting this fantastic canyon.
With the sun still high in the sky, we rush back to visit another interesting place, the Navajo Bridge.
“….Those traveling across the country on Highway 89A between Bitter Springs and Jacob Lake AZ arrive at two bridges similar in appearance spanning the Colorado River. These two bridges, one historic and one new, represent one of only seven land crossings of the Colorado River for 750 miles (1207 km)…..”
End the day at the Horseshoe Bend
“…..the Colorado River makes a wide sweep around a sandstone escarpment. Long ago, as the river meandered southward, it always chose the most downward slope. This downward journey did not always occur in a straight line, and sometimes the river made wide circles around higher spines of rock. Here at Horseshoe Bend, the Colorado River did just that, and as the river cut down through the layers of sandstone, it created a horseshoe-shaped bend in the canyon…..”
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