Frozen fingers. Aching legs. Eyelids shutting. Was it worth it?
The gloves that enveloped our hands seemed utterly useless; the vicious cold air seeped in through the tiny gaps, finding its way through every nook and cranny. We caught some glimpses of snow, which looked like sprinkled icing sugar on a cake. We were tempted to take our gloves off, run to the edge of the large rocks and take some beautiful photos with the picturesque sight that lay beyond. We managed to take a few, just as our hands turned blue from the piercing air that surrounded us and stole any body heat we produced.
Apart from the frigid temperature, the experience of seeing the Grand Canyon was just amazing. Everywhere we looked, all we saw was the large expanse of rocks that had beautiful gradients, creating an astonishing view. Watching it made us forget about the weather completely.
Visiting the gift shop, we discovered that although the canyon generally appears to be red at the surface, there are various different-coloured layers of rock, which gradually form over several years. Being one of the largest gorges in the world, the Grand Canyon is almost 2 km deep, and must have taken a very long time to form, as it is around 17 million years old!
On our way to the Grand Canyon, we passed a famous dam called Hoover Dam. This was constructed between 1930 and 1936 and is the highest concrete dam in the United States. The dam is used for flood and silt control, hydroelectric power, agricultural irrigation, and domestic water supply. It is also a popular sightseeing destination, with about seven million visitors a year.
Even though we spent half the day sitting (or rather falling asleep) on a coach, and the other half in the cold outside, this trip was definitely unforgettable and absolutely stunning. And, yes, it was certainly worth it.
Larger than life. Older that mankind itself. The Grand Canyon has earned its place as one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
