The Grand Canyon

This kind of large-format book illustrated with high quality color plates is always available to tempt impulse buyers in the onsite gift shop. There are several such outlets in the huge area comprising the Grand Canyon National Park; however, online prices for these books tend to be 20% to 30% lower than the premium prices usually found in these onsite shops. This Sierra Press book is authored by Stewart Aitchison, something of a lifelong enthusiast and expert on the Grand Canyon and on several other National Park sites in the US. The book has mostly informative and well-written text double-column printed on about half of the 64 high quality gloss pages; the remaining pages carry full-color photographic plates of the stunning landscape by various different photographers. The chapters cover: 1. An overview of the Canyon, the architecture and railroad 2. The more-visited South Rim, Grand Canyon Village and the relevant geology 3. The less-visited North Rim, including an amusing page about the two different squirrel species 4. Below the rim, hiking in the Canyon and weather issues, place names 5. The Colorado River and an article on John Wesley Powell 6. The history of human habitation in the area 7. Field guides to the wildlife 8. Resources & other reading suggested by the author The National Parks have been described as "America's greatest idea". Certainly they are managed well and, as a non-American visitor, I would concede they are almost universally excellent. The natural and historic features of the landscape are well showcased; facilities are good; ranger-services and policing uniformly polite, non-intrusive but effective; and a sense of respect for the place and freedom to roam is instilled in the visitor which is an object lesson in how to do these things right. The Grand Canyon is a prime example of this excellent management and planning, and differs from some other sites in the US only in its enormous scale. The Canyon has its own airport where you can fly direct to a number of destinations including Las Vegas, or fly over the Canyon in a helicopter or light aircraft (a stunning experience under no circumstances to be missed). The perimeter roads offer frequent stopping places for spectacular overlooks and photo-shoots, and all the parking is free. Even the cafe food is reasonably edible. This is a good coffee-table book and the outstanding photography in particular does justice to the impressive magnificence of the landscape of this, one of the planet's great natural wonders. Looking at this book may even make you want to visit.