canyon - Largest canyons, Well-known canyons, Canyons on other planetary bodies, Trivia

A deep valley with almost vertical sides which have been cut by a river, often in arid or semi-arid regions. Submarine canyons form on continental slopes, and are thought to have been eroded by turbidity currents.

A famous example is the Grand Canyon in Arizona.

Canyons often form in areas of limestone rock.

Largest canyons

Grand Canyon in Arizona, USA Copper Canyon in Chihuahua, Mexico

The definition of "largest canyon" is rather imprecise, as a canyon can be "large" by its depth, length, or the total area of the canyon system. Also the inaccessibility of the major canyons in the Himalaya contributes to their not being regarded as candidates for the biggest canyon. The deepest canyon in the world, Yarlung Tsangpo Canyon, along the Brahmaputra in Tibet, China, even slightly longer than Grand Canyon, is regarded by many as the world's largest canyon, followed by the Kali Gandaki Canyon in Nepal, and Polung Tsangpo Canyon in Tibet.

Slot canyons are very narrow canyons, often with smooth walls.

Well-known canyons

Avon Gorge in Bristol, England Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Colorado, USA Canyon Fortaleza in Cambará do Sul, Brazil Cataract Gorge in Launceston, Australia Cheddar Gorge in Somerset, England Colca Canyon along the Colca River in Peru Columbia River Gorge in the Pacific Northwest of America Fish River Canyon in Namibia Glen Nevis in Lochaber, Scotland Grand Canyon du Verdon in Provence, France Gorges d'Ardèche, in France Gorges du Tarn in France Hells Canyon in Idaho and Oregon, USA Ironbridge Gorge in Shropshire, England Itaimbezinho in Cambará do Sul, Brazil Kloof Gorge in Kloof, South Africa Malacara in Praia Grande, Brazil Palo Duro Canyon in Texas, USA Red River Gorge in Kentucky, USA Royal Gorge in Colorado, USA Tara River Canyon in Montenegro Three Gorges in China Kings Canyon in California, USA Vikos Gorge in Greece Taroko Gorge in Taiwan

Other lesser-known canyon systems include:

Black Dragon Canyon in Utah, USA

Other canyons in the Himalayas include:

Namjagbarwa Canyon in Tibet, China

The Blue Mountains west of Sydney in New South Wales, Australia contain many canyons carved into the sandstone rock.

Canyons on other planetary bodies

Valles Marineris on Mars is the largest known canyon in the solar system Ithaca Chasma on Saturn's moon Tethys

Trivia

Despite its name, Bryce Canyon is a giant natural amphitheater created by erosion.