GRAND CANYON

GRAND CANYONGrand Canyon National Park An inspiring landscape, The Grand Canyon in Arizona overwhelms our senses through its enormity! Unique combinations of geologic color and erosional forms decorate a canyon that is 277 river miles long, up to 18 miles wide, and a mile deep. California Condors Reintroduction Grand Canyon National Park has become an important refuge for California condors and one of the best places on Earth to see them in the wild. One of the

Grand Canyon National Park An inspiring landscape, The Grand Canyon in Arizona overwhelms our senses through its enormity! Unique combinations of geologic color and erosional forms decorate a canyon that is 277 river miles long, up to 18 miles wide, and a mile deep. California Condors Reintroduction Grand Canyon National Park has become an important refuge for California condors and one of the best places on Earth to see them in the wild. One of the rarest birds in the world, the California condor is the largest land bird in North America with a wingspan up to 9 1/2 feet and weighing up to 23 pounds. Floating the Grand Canyon Historic footage with river-running guide and outfitter Georgie White Clark (1911-1992), the first woman to row the full length of Marble and Grand Canyons in 1952.

REVIEW: Booklist
Discoveries America National Parks: Grand Canyon. 2013. 50min. Bennett-Watt, DVD, $24.95 (9781604901696). First published April 8, 2013 (Booklist Online). The Grand Canyon is 18 miles wide, 1 mile deep, 277 river-miles long, and among the best-known tourist sites in the U.S. This entry in the ongoing national parks travel series, filled with panoramic views of the Grand Canyon, includes information on accommodations, nature centers, and available programs. An interviewed biologist describes the California condor reintroduction program.

Footage of the huge birds in flight is accompanied by soothing background music. Another segment includes historic footage of river guide Georgie White Clark (1911-92), the first woman to row the full length of Marble and Grand Canyons, in 1952, and scenes of whitewater rafters preparing for a river trip. Smooth voice-over narration points out landmark features at the north and south rims of the Grand Canyon. For other views of California condors, see Anna, Emma and the Condors, the 2013 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Children's Video winner, distributed by Green Planet Films. Armchair travelers and potential visitors will enjoy this lovely introduction to the Grand Canyon. Candace Smith

REVIEW: Video Librarian
Discoveries America National Parks: Grand Canyon. Just in time for summer vacation, this new entry in Jim and Kelly Watt's acclaimed high-definition Discoveries...America National Parks series looks at some of the most spectacular features of Arizona's Grand Canyon National Park, which-at 18 miles wide and a mile deep-offers one of the world's most stunning examples of the power of erosion, displaying a rugged beauty that attracts a nonstop stream of visitors who come to hike, climb, run the rapids of the Colorado River, or just gaze into the abyss.

Many awestruck travelers share comments here, including some who wait patiently to photograph-or simply to witness- the "magic hours" of sunrise and sunset. Wildlife is also featured, with a focus on the reintroduction of the California condor-an endangered species with a wingspan of more than nine feet, making it the largest land bird in North America.

In a brief history lesson, viewers see old black-and-white stills of Lee's Ferry, where Mormon Jacob Hamblin crossed the Colorado River on a raft in 1864; today, this is a starting point for thrill-packed rafting trips (contemporary footage shows vacationers screaming with delight on a rough-and-tumble run). Also included is archival film of guide Georgie White Clark, who in 1952 would become the first woman to row the full length of the Marble and Grand Canyons. Serving up striking visuals that make for a compelling viewing experience, this is sure to appeal to armchair travelers as well as those who are planning trips. Highly recommended. Aud: P. (C. Block)

REVIEW: The Midwest Book Review
Beautifully shot in high definition, the Discoveries America National Parks DVD series now features three new captivating DVDs that bring the majesty and wonder of striking natural landscapes into one's own living room. "Grand Canyon" is a scenic tour of Grand Canyon National Park, home to one of America's most famous landmarks; scenes from the reintroduction of the California condor, one of the rarest birds of the world, as well as historic footage of river-running guide Georgie White Clark (1911-1992), who was the first woman to row the full length of Marble and Grand Canyons in 1952.

"Yosemite: Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Devils Postpile and Carrizo Plain" is an eye-opening portrait of Yosemite National Park, land of gigantic, near-immortal trees, the 60-foot columnar basalt formations of Devils Postpile National Monument, and the National Monument of Carrizo Plain where one can see surface fractures of the San Andreas Fault.

"Glacier and Craters of the Moon and other National Park Service Sites and Attractions in Montana and Idaho" explores Glacier National Park and its incredible hiking and wildlife viewing options, the Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve in which one can witness three types of pahoehoe lava with islets of cinder cones and sagebrush, and much more. All three DVDs are spectacular, highly recommended especially for armchair travelers and choice picks for public library collections.