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Article: Canyon
- Article from:
- World of Earth Science
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 The Gale Group, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Canyon
A canyon is a narrow, steep-walled, and deep valley with or without a perennial stream at the bottom. It is larger than, but otherwise similar to, a gorge. Canyon walls are commonly composed of
bedrock
with little or no
regolith
and those with nearly vertical walls, particularly in the southwestern United States, are often referred to as slot canyons.
Canyons are characteristic of high plateaus and mountainous regions that have experienced rapid tectonic uplift, for example the Colorado Plateau physiographic province of the southwestern United States. As a region is raised due to tectonic activity, streams will adjust themselves to the change by cutting deeper valleys. Rising ...