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Canyon

Adapted from Wikipedia · Adventurer experience

A stunning view of the Fish River Canyon in Namibia, showcasing the beauty of nature.

A canyon is a deep and impressive gap between tall cliffs or hills. It forms over many years as rivers slowly cut through the land. The water wears away at the rock and creates these amazing shapes. This happens when the land where the river starts is much higher than where it ends, especially in areas with softer rocks mixed with harder ones.

Grand Canyon, Arizona, at the confluence of the Colorado River and Little Colorado River.

Canyons can also appear between two tall mountains. Often, a river or stream cuts through the mountains to make these splits. Examples include Provo Canyon in Utah and Yosemite Valley in California’s Sierra Nevada. Some canyons between mountains are called box canyons because they have walls on three sides. Slot canyons are very narrow with smooth walls.

There are even canyons under the ocean! These are called submarine canyons. They form on the slopes of continents. They are not made by rivers but by powerful underwater flows and movements of mud and sand.

Etymology

Sumidero Canyon, Mexico

The word canyon comes from the Spanish language, written as cañón. In many parts of North America, we use canyon to describe deep valleys. In Europe and Oceania, people often use words like gorge or ravine instead. Even in North America, the words used can change depending on where you are. For example, near Spanish-speaking Mexico, canyon is common, while areas closer to French Canada might use gorge.

Formation

Most canyons were formed by a slow process of erosion over a very long time. They often start from flat areas or plateaus. The walls of canyons are made from harder types of rock that stay standing while softer rocks wear away.

Kevo Canyon in Utsjoki, Finland

Canyons are usually found in dry areas because the wind and water work together to shape the land. Water can freeze inside cracks in the rocks, pushing them apart and breaking pieces off the canyon walls. Some famous canyons, like those carved by the Colorado River in the Southwest, were shaped by the land rising up over time.

Largest

The idea of the "largest canyon" can be confusing because a canyon can be big by how deep it is, how long it is, or how much space it takes up. Some big canyons are hard to reach, which makes them less well-known.

The Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon in Tibet, China, along the Yarlung Tsangpo River, is thought by some to be the deepest canyon on Earth, at about 5,500 metres deep. It is a bit longer than the Grand Canyon in the United States. Others believe the Kali Gandaki Gorge in Nepal is the deepest, with a difference of about 6,400 metres between the river and the surrounding peaks.

In the Americas, the Cotahuasi Canyon and Colca Canyon in southern Peru are both over 3,500 metres deep.

The Grand Canyon in northern Arizona, United States, is one of the world's largest canyons. It is about 1,600 metres deep.

The largest canyon in Europe is the Tara River Canyon, about 1,300 metres deep.

The largest canyon in Africa is the Fish River Canyon in Namibia, about 550 metres deep.

In 2013, a canyon was found under an ice sheet in Greenland. It is thought to be the longest canyon in the world.

Even though it is not as deep or long as the Grand Canyon, the Capertee Valley in Australia is wider, making it the widest canyon in the world.

Cultural significance

Some canyons are very important in history and culture. For example, signs of very old humans were found in Africa's Olduvai Gorge. In the southwestern part of the United States, canyons help us learn about the past because many cliff-dwellings were built there by the ancient Pueblo people.

Notable examples

For a complete list, see List of canyons.

The following list contains only the most notable canyons of the world, grouped by region.

Africa

Namibia

Blyde River Canyon, South Africa

Oribi Gorge, Kwa-Zulu Natal

South Africa

Tanzania

Fish River Canyon, Namibia

Americas

Argentina

Brazil

Bolivia

Canada

Colombia

[Chicamocha Canyon](/wiki/Chicamocha_Canyon), [Santander Department](/wiki/Santander_Department)

Mexico

Ouimet Canyon, Ontario, Canada

Peru

United States

[Bluejohn Canyon](/wiki/Bluejohn_Canyon), [Utah](/wiki/Utah)

Asia

China

India

Sumidero Canyon, Mexico

Indonesia

Others

Europe

United Kingdom

France

Ukraine

Green River overlook, Canyonlands National Park, Utah, U.S.

Others

Oceania

Australia

New Zealand

Solar System

Venus has many craters and canyons on its surface. The troughs on the planet are part of a system of canyons that is more than 6,400 km long.

Images

A stunning view of the Snake River Canyon from Perrine Memorial Bridge in Twin Falls, Idaho.
A stunning panoramic view of Capertee Valley, one of the widest valleys in the world, located between Lithgow and Kandos.
A breathtaking view of Blyde River Canyon in South Africa, showcasing its stunning cliffs and natural beauty.
A beautiful view of Baboons Castle in Oribi Gorge, South Africa, showcasing stunning rock formations and natural scenery.
A peaceful sunset view over the Yangtze River in China.
A scenic view of the Kabul River gorge, showing the natural beauty of Afghanistan's landscape.
A beautiful canyon landscape in northern Iraq, showcasing the natural beauty of Kurdistan's rivers and rock formations.
A stunning view of Cheddar Gorge in Somerset, UK, showing tall limestone cliffs and a beautiful valley.

Related articles

North America
Tibet Autonomous Region
Grand Canyon
Arizona
Washington (state)
Idaho

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Canyon, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Images from Wikimedia Commons. Tap any image to view credits and license.