What is Copper Canyon in the Sierra Madre Occidental?

Copper Canyon, known in Spanish as Barranca del Cobre, is a region located in the state of Chihuahua in northwestern Mexico. It comprises a series of numerous deep canyons situated within the Sierra Madre Occidental mountain system.1

These canyons are formed by the benched flanks of the mountains, which drop into deep, steep-walled gorges known as barrancas. The majestic dimensions of the Copper Canyon are often compared to the Grand Canyon in the United States, as the local relief in this area can exceed 5,000 feet (1,500 metres).2