Grand Canyon Skywalk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Grand Canyon Skywalk |
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Skywalk from Outside Ledge
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| Coordinates | 36°0′44″N 113°48′40″W / 36.01222°N 113.81111°W |
| Carries | Pedestrian |
| Locale | Grand Canyon West, Arizona, US |
| Official name | Grand Canyon Skywalk |
| Owner | Hualapai Tribe |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Curved pedestrian cantilever bridge |
| Material | Steel, glass |
| Total length | 70 feet (21 m) |
| Width | 10 feet 2 inches (3.10 m) |
| History | |
| Architect | Mark Ross Johnson |
| Opened | March 28, 2007 |
The Grand Canyon Skywalk is a special bridge with a glass floor. It's shaped like a horseshoe and hangs out over the edge of the Grand Canyon. You can find it at Eagle Point in Arizona, near the Colorado River. It opened in 2007 as a fun place for tourists to visit. It is located outside the main Grand Canyon National Park.
The Skywalk is very high up, about 4,770 feet (1,454 meters) above sea level. The Colorado River, at the bottom of the canyon, is about 1,160 feet (354 meters) below. This means the drop directly under the Skywalk is between 500 to 800 feet (152 to 244 meters). The Skywalk is about 75 miles (121 km) east of Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned by the Hualapai Indian Tribe. The Skywalk first opened to the public on March 28, 2007. More than one million people visit it each year.
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How the Skywalk Was Built
The idea for the Skywalk came from David Jin, a businessman who worked with the Hualapai Nation. He wanted to build a platform that would extend over the edge of the Grand Canyon. With help from architect Mark Ross Johnson, this idea became the U-shaped glass walkway we see today.
The Skywalk extends about 70 feet (21 meters) out from the canyon wall. It is about 65 feet (20 meters) wide. The bridge is supported by strong steel beams and posts. These posts are anchored deep into the rock of the canyon. They go about 46 feet (14 meters) into the ground.
The floor of the Skywalk is made from four layers of special, clear glass. The glass walls are also very strong and can handle high winds. They are about 5 feet 2 inches (1.57 meters) tall.
The Skywalk was built to be very safe. It can hold a lot of weight, like 100 pounds per square foot (490 kg/m²). It can also withstand a strong earthquake, up to an 8.0 magnitude, if it happens within 50 miles (80 km). To make sure it doesn't wobble when people walk on it, special devices called "tuned mass dampers" were added. The walkway could hold 822 people who each weigh 200 pounds (91 kg). However, for safety, only 120 people are allowed on it at one time.
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The entire Skywalk structure weighs over 1 million pounds (450,000 kg). When it was moved into place, it weighed about 1.6 million pounds (730,000 kg). It was assembled on top of the canyon wall and then carefully rolled out into its final position. This big move took only two days.
Famous astronauts Buzz Aldrin and John Herrington were at the opening ceremony on March 20, 2007. A National Geographic documentary film was made about how the Skywalk was built.
Part of a Bigger Plan
The Hualapai Tribe spent about $30 million to build the Skywalk. The Skywalk is just one part of a much bigger plan for the area. The tribe hopes it will help develop a large area called Grand Canyon West. This plan includes building hotels, restaurants, a golf course, and even a cable car. The cable car would take visitors from the canyon rim down to the Colorado River, a place that was hard to reach before.
Visiting the Skywalk
You can get to the Skywalk from Las Vegas, Nevada, or Kingman, Arizona. Both routes lead to Diamond Bar Road, which takes you to the Skywalk.
When you arrive, you can buy different ticket packages at the airport terminal visitor center. All packages include parking and a shuttle bus that takes you to the Skywalk and other viewing areas. The road to the Skywalk is now paved, making it easy to access.
When you visit, you can't take your own cameras or personal items onto the Skywalk. You need to store them in a locker. However, professional photographers are there to take pictures of you on the Skywalk, and you can buy these photos in the gift shop.
Besides the Skywalk, Eagle Point offers other fun activities. You can watch Native American dances in an amphitheater. There's also a Native American gift shop and a village showing homes of local tribes like the Hualapai, Hopi, and Navajo. Buses connect all the different spots within the Grand Canyon West area.
Images for kids
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Skywalk from Outside Ledge
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Aerial view of the Grand Canyon Skywalk
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Closer view of the entrance building to skywalk
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Aerial view: Grand Canyon West Airport at left center. Grand Canyon National Park lands (top), north of the Colorado River.
See also
In Spanish: Grand Canyon Skywalk para niños
