Canyon
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A canyon (from English canyon; /ˈkænjən/) or cañon (from Spanish caño = tube; German /ˈkanjɔn/ or /kanˈjoːn/) is a particular type of gorge. As a technical term, it is used by German-speaking geologists for a strongly incised valley with stepped slopes in areas with horizontally bedded rock strata.
The Antelope Canyon in Arizona
Origin
Canyons are formed by the incision of a river in a plain, which digs itself into the plateau in a long erosion process. Prominent cliffs are formed because layers of harder rock are more resistant to hanging erosion (denudation) and are exposed, whereas underlying morphologically softer layers are cleared out more. The difference in hardness ultimately creates stepped slopes. Canyons are more common in dry areas because weathering has a lesser effect there than in wetter areas, so the surrounding uplands are preserved and the canyon walls are not flattened. Canyons often form from resistant sandstone, limestone, or granite. Particularly narrow canyons are called slot canyons, which roughly corresponds to the German term Klamm, an example being Antelope Canyon in northern Arizona.
There are also submarine canyons, typically at river mouths as a submarine extension of the river course.
Designations
Some valleys called canyon or cañon in the local language do not meet this geological definition, for example Bryce Canyon.
Conversely, many geological cañons do not have canyon or cañón in their name, but different words for gorge in the various national languages. Even in the USA many are called "gorges" or "ravines".
