The Grand Canyon Skywalk has just received its first visitors. It will be open to the public on March 28, 2007.From Yahoo News:
Indian leaders and former astronauts stepped gingerly beyond the Grand Canyon's rim Tuesday, staring through the glass floor and into the 4,000-foot (1,220 meter) chasm below during the opening ceremony for a new observation deck.
A few members of the Hualapai Indian Tribe, which allowed the Grand Canyon Skywalk to be built, hopped up and down on the horseshoe-shaped structure. At its edge — 70 feet (20 meter) beyond the rim — the group peeked over the glass wall.
"I can hear the glass cracking!" Hualapai Chairman Charlie Vaughn said playfully. The deck is anchored deep into a limestone cliff. As people walk across it, the glass layers creak and the deck wobbles almost imperceptibly. To one side, the Colorado river appears as a slim, pea-green ribbon. To the other is a triangular dip in the canyon's ridge, known as "Eagle Point" because it looks like a bird with outstretched wings.
When the wind blows, only the most daring visitors resist grabbing the steel rail to steady their knees.
From BBC:
120 people are allowed on the platform at any one time. Visitors will have to pay $25 (around £13) to use the gangway, on top of the fee for entering the national park. The bridge will be able to sustain winds in excess of 100mph (161km/h), as well as an 8.0-magnitude earthquake within 50 miles (80.5km).
More pictures after the jump. Click on images for larger views.
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Tags: Grand Canyon Skywalk | Skywalk | Grand Canyon
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