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No.200 オリジナル英文

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New Grand Canyon Attraction offers Spectacular Views
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The horseshoe-shaped skywalk extends 21 meters over the Grand Canyon's edge, creating a unique vantage point for visitors to look deep down into the chasm and the winding Colorado River 1200 meters below.

David Jin, the developer of the skywalk project, recalls the Grand Canyon experience that brought about the idea. "It was back in 1996. I took a helicopter tour to the Grand Canyon from the bottom to the top. After that, I wondered what it would be like to walk among the cliffs. Therefore, the idea of skywalk was born."

While Jin will profit from the $30 million project for 25 years, the Hualapai Indians, who agreed to building the skywalk on their land along the Grand Canyon's western rim hope income from tourists will help alleviate poverty in their community. Sheri Yellowhawk is the CEO of the Grand Canyon Resort Corporation, which oversees the tribe's tourism business.

"It will benefit by bringing in much-needed revenue for our people. Peach Springs is 56 miles away from here. And we have a lot of social problems, a lot of needs: educational needs, needs for elderly, governmental needs, infrastructure, just a whole array of needs."

Skywalk is expected to be the centerpiece of the Hualapai Indians' tourism industry which includes helicopter tours, river rafting, a cowboy town and a museum of Indian replica homes.

After three years of construction, the skywalk opened to the public in March 2007.
Since then, the Hualapai Indians have seen a six fold increase in daily visitors.

Some tourists on the skywalk move gingerly. Some playfully. Some even seem to want more of the thrill. And still others seem unfazed.

Not everyone supports the skywalk. One is Robert Arnberger, former Superintendent of the Grand Canyon National Park. "The Grand Canyon deserves much better than that, than have a thrill ride or thrill walk hanging over its edge."

But developer David Jin says, the skywalk design is environmentally conscious, utilizing recycled water and solar energy. In addition, the structure is designed to withstand hurricane force winds as well as powerful earthquakes.

So far skywalk has attracted more than 100,000 visitors.

Parke Brewer, VOA News.

ニューズウィーク
by danueno | 2007-07-04 09:56 | オリジナル英文


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