The Grand Canyon

Because water seeks the lowest point, many canyons have a stream or river at the bottom. This body of water continues to carve out the valley. It becomes deeper and deeper over the years.

Many of these land areas started out being a plateau. The water and wind erosion carved the canyon out of the rock. Harder rock usually makes up the steep cliff walls of a canyon. In some parts of the world people call a canyon a gorge. The largest canyon in the United States is the Grand Canyon.

Related Terms
dam - a dam is often built across a canyon
cliff - the steep sides of a canyon
waterfall - often water falls down canyon cliffs to form waterfalls
river - often flows through a canyon
valley - similar to a canyon but may be wider than a canyon with sides that aren't as steep
river basin - all the land at the bottom of a canyon or valley where a river and its tributaries flow