There are canyons all over the planet, and the Grand Canyon in Arizona is not the biggest. Yet because of the spectacular colors in the rock layers and fascinating formations of boulders, buttes, and mesas, it is known as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Starting with a brief overview of how national parks came into being, this book covers all aspects of the canyon--how it formed, which early native people lived there, and what varied...

Describes the building of the Taj Mahal, an ivory-white marble mausoleum in the Indian city of Agra.

More than two thousand years ago, with his land under constant attack from nomads, the First Emperor of China came up with a simple solution: build a wall to keep out enemies. It was a wall that kept growing and growing. But its construction came at a huge cost: it is believed that more than a million Chinese died building it, earning the wall its nickname--the longest cemetery on earth. Through the story of the wall, Patricia Brennan Demuth is able...

People from all over the world come to explore Niagara: among them the daredevils determined to tumble down or walk across the falls on tightrope. Learn about the hare-brained stunts and how the falls were formed and how--one day--they will disappear.

In this informative account, Dorothy and Thomas Hoobler tell the story of the powerful pharaohs who commissioned the pyramids at Giza and offer a fascinating look at the culture of the afterlife in ancient Egypt, explaining exactly how mummies were made.

Describes the construction and history of the Colosseum, the largest oval amphitheater in the center of Rome, Italy.

"Imagine over three million square miles of sand dunes that are as tall as a ten-story building. That place is real -- it's the Sahara Desert! Vast, yes! And home to fascinating creatures such as ostriches and fennec foxes as well as amazing plant life. Readers will also learn about the famous trade routes of the past with caravans of up to 10,000 camels, European explorers to the region (some very unlucky ones), and native populations like the Imazighen"--...

"Without risking life or limb, readers can explore the wonders and beauty of the Amazon in this Where Is...? title. Human beings have inhabited the banks of the Amazon River since 13,000 BC and yet they make up just a small percentage of the 'population' of this geographic wonderland. The Amazon River basin teems with life--animal and plant alike. It's a rainforest that is home to an estimated 390 billion individual trees, 2.5 million species of insects,...

"Readers will learn about the Eiffel Tower, the beloved and iconic symbol of Paris, France, and one of the most recognizable structures in the world. Set up for the World's Fair in 1889, the Eiffel Tower greets millions of visitors each year who climb up its wrought-iron stairs, ride its glass elevators, and enjoy the wonderful views of the city spread out below it"--

Describes the isolated Nevada air base known as Area 51, covering its use for testing top-secret aircraft, and discusses speculation about a connection to unidentified flying objects.