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Physical Process

Canyon Formation

Geomorphology

The carving of a deep, steep-sided valley, typically by a river cutting downward through resistant rock faster than the surrounding land erodes outward, often aided by regional uplift that steepens the stream's gradient over geological time. The Grand Canyon's mile-deep gorge is the process's best-known result.

Facts
Process Type
Fluvial 2
Timescale
Geologic time scales 2
Timescale
Timescale (category)
Millions of Years 1
Connections

Associated With

Canyon, Landforms

Caused By

Sources
1. Canyon (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia infobox 'Lead section' = 'A canyon (from Spanish cañón; archaic British English spelling: ca...' on 'Canyon'View the Source
2. Canyon, Wikipedia
  • Lead paragraph, first sentence (clause on river erosion)
    A canyon (from Spanish canon; archaic British English spelling: canon), gorge or chasm, is a deep cleft between escarpments or cliffs resulting from weathering and the erosive activity of a river over geologic time scales.
  • Lead paragraph, first sentence (clause on geologic time scales)
    A canyon (from Spanish canon; archaic British English spelling: canon), gorge or chasm, is a deep cleft between escarpments or cliffs resulting from weathering and the erosive activity of a river over geologic time scales.
View the Source
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