LOCATION
The Grand Canyon is about 300kms [?] east of the gambling city of Las [?]. It is in the desert state of [?] in the south west of the country called the [?].

DESCRIPTION AND HOW IT WAS FORMED
The Grand Canyon is more than 1000 [?] deep, more than 10000 metres [?] and over 400 [?] long. It was formed by vertical [?] by the River [?] over about 5 million years. At the same time as the river was eroding downwards earth [?] were lifting up the Colorado Plateau so the river sliced a huge canyon. Canyons have narrow sides as in the [?] climate there is usually not much weathering. However, here the occasional heavy rains lead to [?] floods and debris flows down side canyons so the Grand Canyon has been widened.

HOW PEOPLE USE IT
The Native Americans used to visit it for worship and it still creates a huge sense of awe and wonder at the power of [?] to create impressive landforms. The Grand Canyon is a world famous visitor attraction and attracts 5 [?] visitors a year. 83% from the USA, [?]% from abroad (with 4% of these from the UK). Visitors can go to the glass bottomed [?] built at Grand Canyon West just outside the controls of the National Park. Visitors do casual sightseeing at either Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim or at the quieter [?] Rim. They can also go whitewater [?] down the Colorado, or go on [?] rides or hikes into the canyon, or for a [?] sightseeing flight.

THE IMPACT OF PEOPLE
The Native Americans have left some historic archaeological remains. Modern buildings like the Skywalk have a huge visual [?] which some people would object to. People hiking, running marathons or riding mule trains have an impact on the footpaths leading to [?] of the tracks. If people avoid the paths they trample the fragile desert [?] causing more damage. If more sturdy paths are built these make the area look less natural. The Grand Canyon [?] train service has an impact and takes visitors to the edge of the National Park but not into the Canyon itself. The River Colorado flow was altered by the building of the Glen Canyon [?] upsream and no longer floods as much. There was a flood in 2008 though when the Redlands Dam broke and people had to be [?].

HOW IS THE GRAND CANYON MANAGED (TO ENCOURAGE SUSTAINABILITY?)
The area is protected as a National Park established way back in [?]. National Park [?] are employed to 'police' the area and also to help to [?] visitors so they appreciate what they see and know how to look after it. The National Park controls access into the Canyon and visitors need a 'backcountry' permit if they are going hiking. Hikers have to apply four months in advance and pay a fee of $100 for a permit. The fee limits the numbers and so reduces damage and the money can be reinvested in protection schemes. [?] is restricted to certain established campsites such as those at Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim.

The National Park also protects plants and wildlife and are leading a scheme to reintroduce and conserve the very rare Californian [?]. Ecologists have tried releasing water from the Glen Canyon Dam to imitate the natural effect of flooding that used to occur each year. They are trying to restore the canyon floor ecosystem which changed after the dam was built in the 1960s.