Fan Island facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Fan Island
Southeast aspect, from Colorado River
Highest point
Elevation	5,092 ft (1,552 m)
Prominence	452 ft (138 m)
Isolation	2.33 mi (3.75 km)
Parent peak	Powell Plateau (7,661 ft)
Geography
Fan Island Location in Arizona Show map of Arizona Fan Island Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Grand Canyon National Park Coconino County, Arizona, US
Parent range	Kaibab Plateau Colorado Plateau
Topo map	USGS King Arthur Castle
Type of rock	Redwall Limestone Tonto Group
Climbing
First ascent	Jim Ohlman, Jim Kirschvink
Easiest route	class 5.4 climbing

Fan Island is a cool mountain peak in the famous Grand Canyon! It's located in Coconino County, in the northern part of Arizona, USA. This peak stands tall at 5,092 feet (about 1,552 meters) above sea level.

It's called Fan Island because its flat top looks a lot like an unfolded hand fan. Imagine a giant fan sitting in the middle of the Grand Canyon!

Where is Fan Island?

Fan Island is found in a very scenic part of the Grand Canyon. It's about two miles south of a spot called Dutton Point. You can also find it 2.5 miles west-northwest of Dox Castle and 1.6 miles south-southwest of Masonic Temple.

This peak rises dramatically from the Colorado River. It soars about 2,900 feet (884 meters) straight up in just one mile! That's a huge climb in a short distance.

How Fan Island Formed

Fan Island is a type of landform called a butte. A butte is like a tall, flat-topped hill with steep sides. It's what's left behind after wind and water have worn away the softer rock around it over millions of years.

This butte is made of two main types of rock. The top layer is called Redwall Limestone. Below that, you'll find rocks from the Tonto Group. These layers tell a story about the ancient environments that existed here long ago.

Climate and Water

Fan Island is in a cold semi-arid climate zone. This means it's generally dry, but not a true desert. It gets some rain, but not a lot.

When it does rain, the water doesn't just sit there. It flows off the peak, a process called runoff. This runoff drains south towards the Colorado River. Water from the west side of Fan Island flows through Hakatai Canyon, and water from the east side flows through Burro Canyon.

Climbing Fan Island

People enjoy climbing Fan Island! The first known climbers to reach the top were Jim Ohlman and Jim Kirschvink. The easiest way to climb it is rated as class 5.4, which is a type of climbing difficulty rating. It means it's a challenging but achievable climb for experienced hikers and climbers.

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