Grand Canyon National Park Turns 96

Ninety Six years ago on February 26, 1919, Grand Canyon was designated a National Park under President Woodrow Wilson's Administration. The creation of the Grand Canyon National Park was seen as an early success of the conservation movement. Home to more than 1,500 plant species and more than 500 animal species, it has become a top tourist destination that attracted 4.5 million visitors every year. 

Postcard US-1700612 to the Netherlands shows Toroweap Overlook, a viewpoint in a remote area on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. It is the only place in the National Park where you can see the Colorado River from vertically above, 3,000 feet or 915 meters over the river.

USPS issued a 60-cent Grand Canyon stamp in 2000 but it came out wrong, twice. The most recent stamp featuring Grand Canyon by USPS was one of four in the set of Hudson River School Forever Stamps, based on the 19th century artist Thomas Moran's 1912 painting. 

Water and Energy

Water and Energy is the theme of World Water Day in 2014, observed on March 22. On the official website, it states: "Water and energy are closely interlinked and interdependent. Energy generation and transmission requires utilization of water resources, particularly for hydroelectric, nuclear, and thermal energy sources. Conversely, about 8% of the global energy generation is used for pumping, treating and transporting water to various consumers."

Postcard US-2367611 to Turkey shows the Black Canyon and the Colorado River downstream from the Hoover Dam. Arizona is on the left side of the canyon and Nevada is on the right side of the postcard. The U-shaped structure at the base of the dam is the power plant that hosts power generators insider. Now ranking in the 50th, it was once the largest hydroelectric power station in the world in 1939.

In Las Vegas, to highlight that millions of people around the world still do not have access to a safe and steady water supply and sustainable solutions can be found if we focus our efforts and our resources, Cirque du Soleil is presenting an one-night-only annual “One Night for One Drop” spectacular for the second year at Mandalay Bay tonight, with performs by guest star entertainers and casts from Cirque du Soleil shows on the Strip. As a result,  all eight Cirque du Soleil shows will be closed as the cast and crew are participanting the philanthropic show this evening.