Grand Canyon
Vast Arizona gorge
The Grand Canyon is a massive gorge carved by the Colorado River in northwestern Arizona, stretching roughly 277 miles long and over a mile deep.
Its exposed rock layers reveal nearly two billion years of geological history.
The canyon draws millions of visitors annually and serves as a symbol of natural grandeur.
Figuratively, a grand canyon suggests any vast chasm or unbridgeable gap: There's a grand canyon between what he says and what he does.
Major southwestern American waterway
- downcuttingVertical channel erosion
- weatheringAtmospheric breakdown of materials
- sedimentParticles settling in liquid
- carvingShaping by cutting away
fluvial · incision · meander · scour · rockslide · landslide · deposition · alluvium
Deep, narrow valley
- chasmDeep, steep-sided gap
- cliffVertical rock wall
- plateauFlat highland area
- mesaFlat-topped steep-sided elevation
butte · rim · North Rim · South Rim · spires · temples · amphitheater · escarpment
Canyon's accessible overlook side
- North RimCanyon's elevated boundary
- mule ridesExcursions on hybrid equines
- raftingTraveling on buoyant platform
- hikingRecreational trail walking
visitor center · rangers · permits · campgrounds · overlooks · helicopter tours · sunrise · sunset
Impressively dignified and beautiful
- sublimeAwe-inspiring greatness
- breathtakingAstonishingly beautiful or exciting
- magnificentExceptionally beautiful or impressive
- awe-inspiringEvoking reverential wonder
spectacular · stunning · humbling · transcendent · wonder · inspiring · overwhelming · sacred
Parallel geological layers
- sedimentaryFormed from deposited material
- fossilsPreserved ancient organism traces
- PrecambrianEarliest geological eon
- PaleozoicEarly complex-life epoch
gneiss · schist · tectonics · uplift · geochronology · paleontology · radiometric dating · rock layers
Extremely great in size
- immenseExtremely large in scope
- expansiveCovering a large area
- enormousExtremely large in scale
- sweepingExtensive and far-reaching
boundless · depth · breadth · billion years · dwarfing · vertiginous · precipitous · plunging
Colorado River
Major southwestern American waterway
- downcuttingVertical channel erosion
- weatheringAtmospheric breakdown of materials
- sedimentParticles settling in liquid
carving · fluvial · incision · meander · scour · rockslide · landslide · deposition · alluvium · terracing
gorge
Deep, narrow valley
mesa · butte · rim · North Rim · South Rim · spires · temples · amphitheater · escarpment · ridges
South Rim
Canyon's accessible overlook side
- North RimCanyon's elevated boundary
- mule ridesExcursions on hybrid equines
- raftingTraveling on buoyant platform
hiking · visitor center · rangers · permits · campgrounds · overlooks · helicopter tours · sunrise · sunset · photography
majestic
Impressively dignified and beautiful
- sublimeAwe-inspiring greatness
- breathtakingAstonishingly beautiful or exciting
- magnificentExceptionally beautiful or impressive
awe-inspiring · spectacular · stunning · humbling · transcendent · wonder · inspiring · overwhelming · sacred · spiritual
strata
Parallel geological layers
- sedimentaryFormed from deposited material
- fossilsPreserved ancient organism traces
- PrecambrianEarliest geological eon
Paleozoic · gneiss · schist · tectonics · uplift · geochronology · paleontology · radiometric dating · rock layers · trilobites
vast
Extremely great in size
sweeping · boundless · depth · breadth · billion years · dwarfing · vertiginous · precipitous · plunging · sheer
- North AmericaUSA, Canada, United States, California, Texas
- US geographystates, capitals, state boundaries, state lines, regions
- American DestinationsYellowstone, Statue of Liberty, New York City, Las Vegas, San Francisco
- US PlacesNew York, California, Texas, Florida, Arizona
- North American Naturebald eagle, American bison, bison, grizzly bear, raccoon
- stargazingtelescope, stargazing guides, night sky, stars, constellation
Grand CanyonMount Everest
Earth's highest summit
Himalayas · Mauna Kea · Mount Kilimanjaro · summit · mesa
Grand Canyonvolcanic mountain
Peak with active crater
Hawaiian Islands · Mount Fuji · coral reef · Great Barrier Reef · river delta
grand, canyon, grandeur, grandly, canyons, grandest, grander, grandiosity, grandness