One of Earth's few landforms visible from space, the Grand Canyon of the Colorado River slices through 277 miles of Northwestern Arizona.
While there are certainly deeper canyons, nowhere else on Earth has width, depth and length combined in such a way as to produce anything quite like this breathtaking chasm.
Over the course of 6 million years, the canyon has been carved by the Colorado River. A mile deep, 277 miles long, and up to 18 miles wide, this canyon is like none other.
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This animated flight is the product of a partnership between NASA, the NPS, and the USGS, and is a part of the NPS Views Project created for a soon to be released Grand Canyon geology module.
Did You Know?
Grand Canyon's Yavapai Observation Station (1928) located one mile (1.6 km) east of
Market Plaza, features exceptional canyon views. New geology exhibits allow park visitors to see and understand the complicated geologic story in ways that all can understand. Exhibits and bookstore open daily.
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