Grand Canyon is undeniably one of nature’s wonders. For almost 90 years, the canyon has been attracting tourists from around the world to this; one of the hottest spot in the world. The Grand Canyon National Park has been the main attraction in the area for almost 90 years, receiving an average of around 11,000 visitors a day in 2006. Behold! now there is another reason for traveling to the canyon; the Grand Canyon Skywalk.

The project, commissioned by the Hualapai Indian tribe, as it has been built in Grand Canyon West (land belonging to the tribe of 2000 strong), was started in 2004 and completed in March 2007. The skywalk opened for visitors on 28^th March 2007.

The walkway designed in the shape of a horse shoe, is at a height of 4,000 feet from the canyon floor, and extends 20 meters out from the edge of the canyon. The glass used for the walkway is 4 inches thick and the walkway has been tested for safety and it can hold the weight of 71 fully loaded 747s, can also withstand winds of up to a 100 mile per hour, from 8 different directions and will be able to stand through an earthquake of the magnitude of 8.0 within a range of 50 miles. Regardless of passing the safety test with such flying colours, only 120 visitors are permitted at a time on it. If someone walking on the platform gets scared, they can step on to the ‘safety zone’, provided on both the edges of the walk way by tinting the glass. The visitors are provided with shoe covers in a bid to save the glass from scratches as well as helping them avoid slipping.

Once you step on the walkway its one of the most intense real life experience of flying without wings. Scary, yes! But it is a real thrill to walk on thin air at such an amazing height. One thing that has annoyed visitors to the walkway is that they are not allowed to take their cameras with them. Believe it or not, the reason given for that is that if it falls, it can scratch the glass.

Even though the skywalk is an experience in itself, to provide visitors some added incentive to make the journey of about 120 miles from Las Vegas, the Hualapai tribe has planned a Grand Canyon Skywalk Complex to compliment the walkway. It will include a museum, theatre, restaurants, VIP lounge, and gift shop. The full developmental project, named the Grand Canyon West, will include developments spread over an area of 9000 acres, featuring hotels, restaurants, golf course and a cable car.

The project has attracted a fair bit of controversy as well with some saying that the tribe has acted in greed and is disturbing the sacred ground and putting the already stressed natural wonder, that sees about 4.1 million visitors a year, at risk. On the other hand the money raised from this development will help the tribe counter the problems it is facing with widespread unemployment and poverty. Whatever the reasons might be behind the whole project, one thing is for sure, a previously inaccessible area of the canyon has been opened for the world to cherish in style, and cherish it we should.

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