For the song, see
CANYON.MID. For the band, see
Canyon (band). A canyon (rarely cañon) or gorge is a deep valley between
cliffs often carved from the landscape by a
river. Most canyons were formed by a process of long-time
erosion from a
plateau level. The
cliffs form because harder
rock strata that are
resistant to erosion and weathering remain exposed on the valley walls. Canyons are much more common in arid areas than in wetter areas because weathering has a lesser effect in arid zones. Canyon walls are often formed of resistant
sandstones or
granite.
Submarine canyons are those which form underwater, generally at the mouths of rivers. The word canyon is Spanish in origin (cañón). The word canyon is generally used in the
United States, while the word gorge is more common in
Europe and
Oceania, though it is also used in some parts of the United States and
Canada. The rare word defile is occasionally used in England.
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