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Which river carved the Grand Canyon?
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Grand Canyon
Mount Hayden as seen from Point Imperial, Grand Canyon National Park, northwestern Arizona, U.S.
The Colorado River carved the Grand Canyon. Approximately six million years ago, the river began to cut through the rock layers of the Colorado Plateau. Its rapid flow, carrying mud, sand, and gravel, deeply eroded the earth. While the river was the primary force, wind, rain, and temperature fluctuations also contributed to widening the canyon over time. The uplift of the Colorado Plateau further steepened the river's path, enabling it to carve the canyon to its impressive depth.12