geology
Grand Canyon
Flat-topped mesas and stair-stepped cliffs reveal a landscape much younger than its rocks.
The story behind the place
Grand Canyon cuts into the high Colorado Plateau in northern Arizona. Its walls expose successive rock units, while the inner gorge reveals much older basement rocks. The Colorado River deepened the main channel; tributaries, weathering and rock falls helped open its branching side canyons. The result is a landscape whose rock record reaches far further back in time than the canyon itself.
Explore on the globe →Find Grand Canyon on the map, record the discovery in your travel journal and continue exploring nearby places.
Read more from the sources
- Geology — Grand Canyon National ParkU.S. National Park Service
- Mather Point — Grand Canyon National ParkU.S. National Park Service
