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How deep and wide is the Grand Canyon?
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valley
The rugged Atlas Mountains surround a valley in Morocco.
The Grand Canyon is an immense canyon carved by the Colorado River through the Colorado Plateau. Its dimensions are as follows:
- Depth: The greatest depths of the canyon reach more than a mile, or approximately 6,000 feet (1,800 meters), below its rim.1
- Width: The canyon ranges in width from about 175 yards (160 meters) to 18 miles (29 km).1
The formation of this vast chasm resulted from the erosive power of the river combined with the uplift of the Colorado Plateau, which allowed the river to cut deeper into the earth over millions of years. Additional weathering from rain, wind, and temperature fluctuations further contributed to the canyon's significant width.2