Grand Canyon Skywalk

Skywalk from Outside Ledge

Coordinates: 36°0′44″N, 113°48′40″W The Grand Canyon Skywalk is a tourist attraction along the Colorado River on the edge of the Grand Canyon (Grand Canyon West) in the U.S. state of Arizona.

Commissioned by the Hualapai Indian tribe, it was unveiled March 20, 2007, and opened to the general public on March 28, 2007. It is accessed via the Grand Canyon West terminal or  miles ( km) drive from Las Vegas (which includes an unpaved and bumpy  miles ( km) stretch). A walk on the skywalk is available only as a part of a "package". The cheapest package with skywalk costs over $75 per person and includes a visit to a wild west styled town.

The horseshoe-shaped glass walkway, at a 1,200 meter (4,000 ft) height above the floor of the canyon exceeds those of the world's largest skyscrapers.^[1] The Skywalk is not directly above the main canyon, Granite Gorge, which contains the Colorado River, but instead extends over a side canyon and affords a view into the main canyon.^[2] USGS topographic maps[1] show the elevation at the Skywalk's location as 1454 m (4,770 ft) and the elevation of the Colorado River in the base of the canyon as 354 m (1,161 ft).

Technical achievement

Skywalk protrudes 20 meters (65 ft) beyond the edge of the canyon. The walls and floor are built from glass 10.2 cm (4 inches) thick. The glass on both edges of the floor is tinted and can be used as a "safe zone" by scared visitors. The Skywalk is capable of holding 70 tons of weight (the equivalent of 800 people weighing 80 kg (175 lb.) each), however the permitted capacity is limited to 120 persons. Visitors are provided with shoe covers to protect them from slipping and to prevent the glass floor from being scratched. However, quite a few light scratches were visible already in September 2007.

Construction began in March 2004. It was rolled onto the edge of the canyon on March 7, 2007 after passing several days of testing to replicate weather, strength and endurance conditions of its final destination. The structure was built to withstand up to  mph ( km/h) winds and a magnitude 8 earthquake.^[2] Tuned mass dampers were used to minimize vibration from wind and pedestrians.

Cornerstone of a larger plan

According to Hualapai officials, the cost of the Skywalk alone will exceed $40 million.^[3] Future plans for the Grand Canyon Skywalk complex include a museum, movie theater, VIP lounge, gift shop, and several restaurants including a high-end restaurant called The Skywalk Café where visitors will be able to dine outdoors at the canyon's rim. The Skywalk is the cornerstone of a larger plan by the Hualapai tribe, which it hopes will be the catalyst for a 9,000 acre (36 km²) development to be called Grand Canyon West: it would open up a  miles ( km) stretch along the canyon's South Rim and include hotels, restaurants, a golf course and a cable car to ferry visitors from the canyon rim to the Colorado River, which has been previously inaccessible. ^[3]

The tribe partnered with businessman David Jin to raise the money for the project.^[4]

Controversy

The planning and construction of the Skywalk has caused controversy within the Hualapai tribe as well as between the tribe and outside groups.

Hualapai

Opponents within the tribe view the project as disturbing sacred ground.^[4] Supporters within the tribe counter that it is an opportunity to generate much-needed cash to combat serious problems that plague the small 2,000-resident reservation, including a 50% unemployment rate, widespread alcoholism and poverty.^[3] Other tribal members are happy with the Skywalk, but have expressed concern over future over-development and the potential lack of sustainability (the water used in both the development and the neighboring Grand Canyon National Park is not taken from the Colorado River but piped or trucked in from elsewhere).^[3]

Environmentalists and others

People outside of the tribe, including Arizona environmental groups and former National Park officials, have expressed concern about the project's obtrusiveness in the natural environment, considering it a defacement of a national treasure. Some have suggested it is ironic that the Hualapai had argued they were the best caregivers and stewards of the Grand Canyon, and yet decided to exploit it in this way.^[3] Tribal leaders counter that the 4.5 million people a year who visit the National Park portion are already overburdening an area and, further, that the tribe needs financial income. The tribe's 1 million-acre (4,000 km²) reservation attracts approximately 200,000 visitors a year and charges for rim-side weddings and stunt jumps (including one by Robbie Knievel). The tribe made a foray into opening a casino but it has not been able to generate sufficient income.^[3]

Gallery

The view of the canyon next to the skywalk

References

External links

• Washington Post Photo Gallery
• Grand Canyon Skywalk
• Destination Grand Canyon West official site
• The Grand Canyon Skywalk
• Updates and Tips for Visiting the Grand Canyon Skywalk
• The Green Head - (Video & Pictures)
• Grand Canyon Skywalk Info - Grand Canyon AZ (private Grand Canyon information site)
• Robbins, Ted, "Sneak Preview: The Grand Canyon Skywalk", Morning Edition, National Public Radio, March 21, 2007.
• Discovery Channel construction photos and video report. (Video requires broadband Canadian ISP connection).
• The Grand Canyon Skywalk Video Review
• Skywalking at the West Rim Grand Canyon. A family trip from Las Vegas to the Skywalk.

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