Canyons

A canyon is a deep valley with steep sides made of rock. Rivers and streams carve canyons over millions of years. Water slowly wears away the rock, making the valley deeper and deeper. Canyons can be found all over the world.

How Canyons Form

Canyons are made by erosion. That means water wears away rock bit by bit. A river flows over rock for a very long time. Slowly, it cuts a path deeper into the ground. Wind and rain also help shape the canyon walls.

Famous Canyons

The Grand Canyon in Arizona is one of the most famous canyons in the world. It is over a mile deep. Bryce Canyon in Utah has tall, colorful rock towers. Fish River Canyon in Africa is the second largest canyon on Earth.

Fun Facts

• The Grand Canyon is about 277 miles long.
• Some canyons are found underwater on the ocean floor.
• The word canyon comes from the Spanish word cañón, meaning tube.

Did You Know?

The Colorado River took about 5 to 6 million years to carve the Grand Canyon!