國家寶藏

Brian S. McGrath 梁小明

For Kari Cobb， hiking in the Grand Canyon is a journey through history. At the bottom， the Colorado River flows as it has for 6 million years. Cobb gazes up at the cliff face. She thinks of the indigenous1， or native， people who lived in and around the canyon long before the arrival of non-native explorers.

The Grand Canyon stretches across 277 miles of Northern Arizona. “It is massive，” says Cobb. She is a park ranger. “You cannot see all of it. Thats what makes this place so intriguing2.”

In 2019， Grand Canyon National Park celebrated its 100th anniversary. Special events took place at the park throughout 2019. Vanessa Ceja-Cervantes was the anniversary outreach3 coordinator. “We hope visitors will connect with the park and learn to be stewards4 of the land，” she said.

But the Grand Canyons popularity makes it hard to protect. In 2017， the park had more than 6 million visitors. Balancing tourism and conservation5 is a challenge.

Money Matters

Tourism brings much-needed money to American Indians in the area. For example， the Hualapai tribe runs helicopter tours in the park. But the tribes main attraction is the Grand Canyon Skywalk. It is a glass-floored walkway that juts6 out over a cliffs edge. It draws more than 1 million tourists each year.

Critics say Skywalk spoils7 the canyons beauty. Helicopter noise shatters8 its silence. In 2017， tribal chairman Damon Clarke defended the attractions. “They provide fund services for our elders， children， and others in need of support，” he said. He added that any development was done “with respect for the canyon in mind.”

Tough Choices

To the east of the national park lies the Navajo Nation. Developers wanted to build a tramway， hotels， and restaurants in the area. The issue divided the Navajo community. Some wanted the economic benefits. Others saw the plan as damaging to their culture. They also worried about how it would affect the environment. In February 2018， the Navajo voted against the plan.

Sarana Riggs is a member of the Navajo Nation. “There is always a need for development，” she says. “The question is： How can the Navajo tap into tourism in a sustainable9 way？”

Millions of tourists visit the Grand Canyon each year. They are bound10 to have an impact. But Cobb believes they will be inspired to protect the parks history and beauty. “People who visit national parks love them，” she says.

對卡麗·科布來說，在大峽谷徒步旅行是一段穿越歷史的旅程。在峽谷底部，科羅拉多河六百萬年以來一直在流淌?？撇寄曋鴳已碌谋砻?。她想到的是，在非本土探險家到來很久之前就生活在峽谷內外的土著居民。

大峽谷橫跨亞利桑那州北部的277英里。“它非常大?！笨撇颊f。她是公園管理員。“你無法一覽全貌。這就是這個地方如此吸引人的原因。”

2019年，大峽谷國家公園迎來了它的一百周年。整個2019年，公園舉行了特別活動。凡妮莎·采婭·塞萬提斯是周年的推廣協調員。她說：“我們希望游客們能與公園多聯系，學習如何管理這片土地?！?/p>

但是大峽谷的受歡迎程度導致它難以保護。2017年，該公園有600多萬游客。平衡旅游業和自然保護是一項挑戰。

錢很重要

旅游業給該地區的美國印第安人帶來了急需的資金。例如，瓦拉派部落在公園里經營直升機旅游。但是這個部落最吸引人的地方是大峽谷天空步道。這是一條從懸崖邊延伸出的玻璃步道，它每年吸引了一百多萬游客。

批評者說，天空步道破壞了峽谷的美麗。直升機的噪音打破了它的寧靜。2017年，部落主席達蒙·克拉克為這些景點辯護。他說：“它們為我們的老人、兒童和其他需要幫助的人提供資金服務。”他補充說：任何開發都是在“尊重峽谷”的前提下進行的。

艱難的抉擇

納瓦霍人居住在國家公園的東面。開發商想在該地區修建一條電車軌道，以及酒店和餐廳。這個問題使納瓦霍人產生了分岐?！?br>