Antelope Canyon
Page is a city in Coconino
County, Arizona, United States, near the Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell.
According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is
6,794.
Unlike other cities in the
area, Page was created in 1957 to house workers and their families during
the construction of nearby Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado River. Its 17-square-mile
(44 km2) site was obtained in a land exchange with the Navajo Indian tribe.
The city is perched atop Manson Mesa at an elevation of 4,300 feet (1,300
m) above sea level and 600 feet (180 m) above Lake Powell.
After the dam was completed
in the 1960s, the city grew steadily to today's population of 6,800. Because
of the new roads and bridge built for use during construction, it has become
the gateway to the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Lake Powell,
attracting more than 3 million visitors per year. Page is also the home
of two of the largest electrical generation units in the western United
States. Glen Canyon Dam has a 1,288,000 kilowatts capacity when fully online.
The other power plant to the southeast is the Navajo Generating Station,
a coal-fired steam plant with an output capability of 2,250,000 kilowatts.
Antelope
Canyon by Paula Radmall
 Antelope
Canyon is the most popular and the most visited place in the LeChee district
of the Navajo Nation, near Page, Arizona. Although the LeChee district
hosts a number of slot canyons, the Antelope Canyon slots--Upper Antelope
and Lower Antelope--is by far the most popular. People from around the
globe love to visit this beautiful place, and capture amazing scenes in
their cameras!
 Upper
Antelope, also known as The Corkscrew, isn't as long and deep as many other
slot canyons, but it is amazingly beautiful. It is also one of the easiest
slot canyons to visit, because you can drive right up to the entrance and
the ground is even and leveled. During summer--tourist season in the slot
canyon--you are need to be cooperative and patient and helpful to others
in order to enjoy the time, because it is overcrowded and is sometimes
frustrating.
On
the other hand, Lower Antelope is a long, deep, and more challenging slot
canyon--entry is through a slit in the rocks, uneven and rocky ground.
Only the first third of the slot canyon is open for tourists, and is the
easiest to travel. Other two sections, i.e., the middle and the last sections,
are more rugged with sharp drop offs, and require serious rope work. You
must take care while in the slot canyon, and never go in if there are predictions
for rain in the region, as it will be very risky.
 Hiking
and camping is allowed only through a valid permit, as the Antelope Canyon
lies under the Navajo lands. A separate permit is required for entry into
Upper Antelope Canyon and Lower Antelope Canyon; this permit has to be
purchased from the Antelope Canyon Unit Office. You will need to keep copy
to keep alongwith you during the visit.
You will have to pay a nominal
fee to get a permit for hiking--$5 per person per day. An additional amount
of $2.50 per person per night will be charged for permitted camping; however,
it is restricted to some specified areas. Sometimes, during a particular
period of the year, you are required to be accompanied by a licensed tour
guide, which is an additional cost.
While planning a trip to
Antelope Canyon, you must be aware of the weather conditions, because if
the weather is stormy you will not be permitted to enter due to the danger
of flood.
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