National Geographic published an article back in January 2006 on the grandeur of the Grand Canyons. The article, aptly named, The Unexpected Canyon (http://www7.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0601/feature3/), with photographs from Mike Nichols, reveals the immense possibility of challenges and discoveries that the canyons still hold for us. Apart from being a geological treasure chest that reveals of our past and evolution, the grand canyon has been a strong beckon to tourists, explorers, hikers, naturalists and climbers for ages. The fact that US government has preserved the land in its own shape and form and the land requires some amount of hardship to reach and explore, probably raised the charm amongst the visitors.
But business and the lure of exploitation could not keep away from this treasure spot for long. The sky walk, built by Californian businessman David Jin, was envisioned in 1996 and finally open to the public in March - April 2007. Charging $25 per visitor, this is planned to be a strong attraction for tourists. David Jin would collect the money for 25 long years (averaging a low of 100 visitors a day, this could be as much as $ 60 million dollars).
While on one hand lies the question of the Hualapai tribe using their priveledges to rent the land for income (they will own the skywalk while David Jin keeps half the money for himself), on the other side, lies the technical ability of the structure to hold on safely for so long. The 70 feet walk, hanging 4000 feet over the Colorado River on the Grand Canyon, is built by steel and glass drilled 40 feet into the porous canyon walls.
Read the article on National Geographic here. The original article read “It’s the most iconic of American landscapes, yet the Grand Canyon still has the power to surprise.” As long as the bridge is the last of such surprises, its good news. And as long as another amusement park does not invest another few millions to create roller coasters, I guess, we are happy.
