The Grand Canyon is a place I’ve 
always wanted to visit because it is 
like a massive time machine that lets 
you walk through two billion years of 
history. It would be amazing to stand 
on the rim and look down at rock layers 
that were formed long before dinosaurs 
even existed. I find it fascinating that 
you can actually see the “Trail of Time,” 
where every step represents the Earth’s 
ancient past. Beyond the scenery, I 
want to learn about the people who 
lived there for thousands of years, like 
the tribes who built homes right into the 
cliffs. To me, the Grand Canyon is an 
incredible chance to see how our world 
has changed over millions of years.
Narayan Balru, Year 7
A place I would like to visit in North 
America is Grand Canyon, a fascinating, 
endless landscape filled with rocky 
cliffs and deep valleys which host 
breathtaking sunsets spreading across 
a vast horizon. The Grand Canyon is 
a massive mile deep gorge in Arizona 
carved by the Colorado River and 
stretches to 277 miles which you can 
explore with helicopter rides. Mounted 
above a crack on our planet’s crust, 
images of the Grand Canyon do not 
capture its beauty and power, even 
though, as the saying goes ‘a picture is 
worth a thousand words.’ 
Siris Lohani, Year 8
The Grand Canyon is a large, deep gorge 
that is in the Arizona desert, which exposes 
two billion years of rock layers. The Canyon 
spans over 277 miles and is 18 miles wide. 
Usually, visitors would go to the. South Rim 
because it is open all year round. There are 
many viewpoints such as the Mather point 
and the historic Desert view watchtower. 
To get down there are trails such as the 
Bright Angel Trail. There is an alternative 
perspective, the North Rim, which has 
higher altitudes although it is closed during 
the winter because of extreme snow. 
The best time to visit it during the Spring 
because it gives a great view and doesn’t 
have harsh weathers overall. In my opinion, 
it looks like a breathtaking, natural wonder 
of the world and it is worth it to visit.
Afzal Afla, Year 9
The Mountain Lying Down
A poll undertaken amongst Key Stage 3 students revealed that the location students would most like to visit in North America 
is the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon is one of the world’s great natural wonders, a vast chasm in the state of Arizona, 
carved out by the Colorado River, an awesome feature of the landscape which the local Paiute people called Kaibab, meaning 
‘mountain lying down’. Here, students describe this geographical marvel and why they dream of seeing it for their own eyes.
The Grand Canyon in Arizona, USA is one of the most marvellous 
wonders of the world. It is regarded as a world heritage site and 
National Park with 5 million visitors annually. It deserves it status 
as a Wonder of the world fully being 277 miles long, 18 miles 
wide and up to a mile deep, being created from erosion from the 
Colorado river starting 6 million years ago, revealing up to 2 billion 
years of geological history, being a treasure trove for historians 
and geologists alike. I specifically want to see it just to really take 
in how ‘grand’ it really is, to see the diverse environments that 
surround it, the vibrant, colourful landscapes of the world and 
being able to witness one of The Seven 
Natural Wonders of the World. Its 
history is also quite notable because 
it has many indigenous tribes living 
around it, over 1500 different plant species and almost 500 
species of animals with some endemic creatures such as the 
Kaibab squirrel which is known for its white tail, black belly, and 
tufted ears, and the Grand Canyon Rattlesnake that has a pink 
colour. In conclusion, the Grand Canyon is staple wonder of the 
world that has amazing history, sights to be hold and more
Rishikesh Biswas, Year 9
25

View this content as a flipbook by clicking here.