The Grand Canyon is located in Arizona, USA.  No one really knows how it was formed but there are some pretty good guesses.  It was probably formed by the Colorado River eroding away at it.

The Grand Canyon has a very strange climate.  You could be at the top of it while it would be snowing and at the bottom it could be 80° F.  After it rains, the water freezes and expands inside the cracks and breaks up the rock causing landslides.  These rocks are then carried down the river and dumped into the ocean.

It is believed to be an ancient mountain range bigger than the Himalayas.  They believe it all started around 1.7 billion years ago.  Then it was eroded leaving sedimentary deposits.  When the ocean level rises it causes it to form layers. This is the reason why the Grand Canyon is divided into layers.

There are many plants around the Grand Canyon.  Such as the agave plant. Some others are sagebrush, golden columbine, ponderosa pine, pinyon pine, gambel oak, cliff rose, fern bush, mountain mahogany, hedgehog cactus, and the utah juniper.  These plants have adapted to the climate of the Grand Canyon.  Many plants could not survive in the in the Grand Canyon.

Today, sixty seven different species of mammals live in the Grand Canyon include bighorn sheep, bobcat, mule deer, albert squirrel, coyote and mountain lion.  Rock squirrels have lost their natural fear of humans and are often seen begging for handouts.  It is dangerous and illegal to feed them. The Colorado River (running through the canyon) is also home to sixteen species of fish. There are also many reptiles and amphibians, including twenty two types of lizards and twenty four types of snakes.

The Grand Canyon is so big it is no wonder that it is a natural wonder!  It is about 277 miles long, and Mother Nature created it all.  It is amazing to see some pictures because there is so much rock.

 Overall the Grand Canyon is very interesting. I hope you think that also. Someday I would like to go see the Grand Canyon and enjoy the wildlife.