Ian
priscilla 1Grand Canyon Skywalk
April 4th 2007 12:33
The Grand Canyon Skywalk is a tourist attraction, commissioned by the Hualapai Indian tribe, unveiled March 20, 2007, and to be opened to the public on March 28, 2007, along the Colorado River on the edge of the Grand Canyon in the U.S. state of Arizona. The Skywalk charges $25.00 per person in addition to Grand Canyon West entry fees.
The horseshoe-shaped glass walkway is suspended 1,200 meters above the canyon, a height that eclipses the world's largest skyscrapers. It protrudes 65 feet (20 meters) from the edge of the canyon, and its walls and floor are built from glass 4 inches (10.2 cm) thick. The Skywalk is able to hold 70 tons of weight, allowing for 800 people weighing 175 lbs. (80 kg) each to stand on the bridge; the allowed capacity, though, will be limited to only 120 persons. All visitors will be provided with shoe covers to protect them from slipping and to prevent scratching of the glass floor.
In addition to tuned mass dampers used to minimize vibration from wind and pedestrians, the structure was built to withstand up to 100 mph winds and a magnitude 8 earthquake. Construction of the Skywalk began in March 2004. It was rolled onto the edge of the canyon on March 7, 2007, after passing several days of final testing to replicate weather, strength and endurance conditions of its final destination. According to Hualapai officials, the cost of the Skywalk alone will exceed $40 million.
The Grand Canyon Skywalk complex will also 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. It is the cornerstone of a larger plan by the tribe, which they hope will be the catalyst for a 9,000-acre development to be called Grand Canyon West.
Here are some photos of the skywalk, see some more here.
*These pictures used with permission from Damn Funny Pictures.
**This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation Licence. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Grand Canyon Skywalk.
The horseshoe-shaped glass walkway is suspended 1,200 meters above the canyon, a height that eclipses the world's largest skyscrapers. It protrudes 65 feet (20 meters) from the edge of the canyon, and its walls and floor are built from glass 4 inches (10.2 cm) thick. The Skywalk is able to hold 70 tons of weight, allowing for 800 people weighing 175 lbs. (80 kg) each to stand on the bridge; the allowed capacity, though, will be limited to only 120 persons. All visitors will be provided with shoe covers to protect them from slipping and to prevent scratching of the glass floor.
In addition to tuned mass dampers used to minimize vibration from wind and pedestrians, the structure was built to withstand up to 100 mph winds and a magnitude 8 earthquake. Construction of the Skywalk began in March 2004. It was rolled onto the edge of the canyon on March 7, 2007, after passing several days of final testing to replicate weather, strength and endurance conditions of its final destination. According to Hualapai officials, the cost of the Skywalk alone will exceed $40 million.
The Grand Canyon Skywalk complex will also 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. It is the cornerstone of a larger plan by the tribe, which they hope will be the catalyst for a 9,000-acre development to be called Grand Canyon West.
Here are some photos of the skywalk, see some more here.
Aerial view of the Skywalk.
View from the side.
Perspective of the height above the canyon floor.
View from the Skywalk. Note the special shoe covers to protect the glass.
Looking down through the glass floor.
Artists impression of the completed Skywalk complex.
*These pictures used with permission from Damn Funny Pictures.
**This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation Licence. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Grand Canyon Skywalk.
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