The largest gorge in the world. Three canyons in Europe that you did not know about The river that formed the deepest canyon in the world
Nothing demonstrates the power and possibilities of water like a river canyon. Carving canyons through solid rock over millions of years, rivers are slowly creating these incredibly beautiful natural wonders. The long and deep canyons on this list amaze with their beauty. Some, like the Grand Canyon of Arizona, are famous. Others, such as the Yarlung in Tibet, are less famous. However, each of them has its own unique features. Let's dive into our first canyon...
Canyon of the Tara River in Montenegro
We begin our review with the winding Tara Canyon in Montenegro, which is the deepest river gorge in all of Europe. At its deepest point, the canyon reaches 1,300 meters, thanks to the Tara River, which created it. Located in the Durmitor National Park, the canyon is protected and under review by the organization world heritage UNESCO. Even from the highest peaks you will hear the thunderous sound of over 40 cascades plunging into this amazing 82 km long canyon.
Blyde Canyon in South Africa
The Blyde River Canyon in South Africa may not be the largest on Earth, but it is rightfully considered one of the greenest. With an average depth of 762 meters, this 26 km long gorge is covered with rich subtropical vegetation. The deepest part of the canyon near Mt. Marypskop reaches 1,372 meters. The most incredible views in South Africa can be seen from the rim of Blyde River Canyon - from one point it is even possible to see Mozambique. In addition to the stunning views, you will be glad to know that this canyon is also rich in fauna, including all five species of South African primates.
Barranca del Cobre
Copper Canyon in Mexico, or Barranca del Cobre is located near Chihuahua. It includes as many as six canyons and is named after the copper-red hue of its walls. The six rivers responsible for creating these amazing valleys flow into the Sea of Cortez as part of the Rio Fuerte. The deepest canyon in the system, the Barranca de Uric, is 1,879 meters deep. Copper Canyon is rich wildlife, but unfortunately many species are now endangered by deforestation. Hopefully, something will be done to help these animals before the canyon loses one of its most important features.
Canyon Cotahuasi
There will be several canyons from Peru on this list, including Cotahuasi, which plummets to 3,535 meters at its deepest point. The canyon is carved by the Cotahuasi River between two mountain ranges, Coropuna and Soliman. These places are very remote from civilization and if you want to visit them, you will have to spend 12 hours on the road. However, while it may be inconvenient for tourists, it is very good in terms of flora and fauna conservation.
Colca Canyon in Peru
The second Peruvian canyon on our list is Colca. With an awe-inspiring height of 4,160 meters, this marvel is located in southern Peru. Kolka is one of the deepest canyons in the world, if not the deepest. It is twice as deep as the Grand Canyon of Arizona and is also one of Peru's most visited tourist attractions. Colca Canyon, in addition to many beautiful views, is also home to the Andean Condor, and many other famous species of birds and mammals. In addition, the valley has archaeological sites dating back about 6,000 years, a bathing hot spring, and the Infernillo Geyser. Add to all this the lush green stepped terraces of the Incas, and it becomes clear why this area receives 120,000 tourists annually.
Fish River Canyon
The Fish River Canyon in Namibia is the largest in Africa. This giant river channel meanders 160 km across the plateau. The rocky canyon is a popular place to visit due to its stunning scenery. The gorge itself is only 550 meters deep, but in some places it stretches 27 km wide. Although the Fish River at the base of the Canyon spends most of the year divided into shallow pools, flash floods occur at the end of the summer season. Every year, a marathon is held in the canyon, testing runners in extreme conditions. This is definitely not a place for the faint-hearted.
Grand Canyon in Arizona
It's not the largest canyon in the world as many people think, but Arizona's Grand Canyon is without a doubt the most famous. 1,828 meters deep and 445 km long, this majestic site is one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World. Geologists are still debating how the Grand Canyon formed. The current theory is that 17 million years ago, the Colorado River gradually began to shorten its path through the rocks, continuing to widen and deepen the channel, creating its modern form. This sculpting of the canyon accelerated during the ice ages. At this time, the amount of water increased, which helped to destroy the canyon even faster. Today, approximately five million people visit the Grand Canyon every year, coming from all over the world.
Kali Gandaki Gorge in Nepal
The Kali Gandaki River makes its way through the gorge of the same name in Nepal. It is even older than the high Himalayan mountain range that surrounds the canyon. The river is named after the Hindu goddess Kali, and its waters are colored black due to the presence of glacial silt. The exact depth of the giant gorge is still under discussion because there is no agreement yet on the height of its rim. However, if the depth were measured from the highest peaks on either side to the river below, it would be the deepest canyon in the world, with a depth of approximately 6,800 meters.
Caperthy Valley in Australia
Departure to the Caperty Valley in New South Wales, Australia. This majestic canyon is the largest in Australia and is known for its high sandstone escarpments. Due to its advanced age, the Valley is not as deep as some of the other canyons on this list, but it makes up for it in sheer size. The Caperty is wider and about 1 km longer than the Grand Canyon. At the base of the valley is the Caperty River, carving its way through Triassic rock that dates back millions of years. The indigenous people of Wiradjuri have a very extensive history in this land, with several thousand years of mining. Ancient treasures have been repeatedly located here - diamonds from abandoned mines dug in the slopes of the mountain.
Yarlung Tsangpo Canyon
High in the Himalayas sacred mountain Kailash, a mighty canyon resists the Brahmaputra River in Northern India. With an average depth of 4,876 meters and a maximum depth of 6,009 meters, Yarlung Tsangpo is often considered the deepest canyon on Earth. And not only the depth of the canyon is impressive, but also the length of 240 km through the breathtaking Tibetan landscape. The river is popular with kayakers, who gave it the name "Everest among rivers" for its extreme conditions.
There are a lot of places in the world, after visiting which there are unforgettable impressions. And some of the most amazing natural phenomena that have been created, day after day for a long time, are natural canyons. It is about them that will be discussed in our article.
A nice bonus only for our readers - a discount coupon when paying for tours on the site until February 29:
- AF500guruturizma - promo code for 500 rubles for tours from 40,000 rubles
- AFT2000guruturizma - promo code for 2,000 rubles. for tours to Turkey from 100,000 rubles.
- AF2000KGuruturizma - promo code for 2,000 rubles. for tours to Cuba from 100,000 rubles.
There is a promo code in the Travelata mobile app - AF600GuruMOB. It gives a discount of 600 rubles for all tours from 50,000 rubles. Download app for and
The park is under protection, and going deep into the island, you should take care of a good map, provisions and inventory for all occasions.
No less grandiose natural phenomenon is the Colca Canyon, which is located in Peru. It is considered to be the deepest in the world. Its depth in some places reaches 3400 meters. The formation of the canyon was preceded by the long-term activity of two volcanoes at once - Valka and Sabankaya. The latter is still active today.
If you consider yourself an avid rafting enthusiast, hiking and biking in the mountains, you should definitely find the time and opportunity to spend at least a little time in the company of the magnificent Colca Canyon.
Apart from dizzy height, beautiful nature and the unique animal world of all visitors to the canyon is waiting for something else. Just imagine, right on the steep slopes there are entire villages with terraces for agriculture, which are still used today. Well, how can we ignore the king of modern birds of prey - the Andean condor. The wingspan of this giant bird sometimes reaches 3.3 meters!
And now let's go to the southern part of the African continent. It is on the territory of modern South Africa that another bright representative of the world of canyons is located - the Blyde River Canyon. It is part of the Dragon Mountains and is included in the list of objects of natural origin that you should definitely see with your own eyes while traveling around the African continent.
In addition to its phenomenal size, the Blyde River Canyon boasts the most dense vegetation, which elevated it to the first place in the ranking of the "greenest canyons in the world." Red sandstone, which in some places appears through dense thickets, only reminds of the origin of the grandiose canyon. And at this time, somewhere below, the river of the same name flows, drawing the eyes of rare travelers behind it into unprecedented distances.
The approximate length of the canyon is 26 km, and the depth in some places exceeds 1400 meters. And this despite the fact that some of the mountain peaks that frame the canyon along the entire perimeter are located at an altitude of more than 2 km above sea level!
Well, so that all visitors can boast of unique photographs upon returning home, full-fledged observation platforms are equipped along the entire length of the canyon, in the most picturesque places.
Arizona's Glen Canyon looks no less impressive. It is here that Americans from all over the country gather, emphasizing how popular this place is. The red-orange sandstone that lies at the base of the canyon gives this grandiose place a special charm. Everything is here: rocky ledges, and deep caves, and hills, some of which are hidden under water.
More than 4,000 square kilometers were allotted for the recreation area alone. That is why every visitor to the canyon will be able to fill every minute of their vacation with active activities and other entertainment. It offers vacationers and water skiing, and jet skis, and excellent fishing, the catch of which will delight even those who are far from fishing rods and spinning rods. Hiking and various excursions are especially popular among vacationers. And for those who want to slowly appreciate all the beauty of the canyon, a comfortable ferry is ready to offer its services, which makes boat trips every day.
Another prominent representative of the "family" of canyons is, which is also located in Arizona. This canyon has the right to claim the title of the most unusual and colorful on the planet. Cracks of bizarre shapes, an unusual color scheme of rocky ledges, which is somewhat reminiscent of the skin of a noble antelope - all this made the canyon a unique and unique place, interesting for every tourist.
Getting into this grandiose place, one gets the impression that he has fallen into a kind of fairy tale, the author of which is Nature herself. Despite this, Antelope Canyon is not assigned to any national park, although it will not be possible to visit it for free. It turns out that representatives of the Indian tribe, who own the rights to this land, will have to pay the fee.
Please note that the light in the canyon does not penetrate well, so you will have to use all your photography skills to get really good pictures. The best time for photography is the middle of the day.
The Grand Canyon is a full-fledged park of national importance. This is one of the most perfect creations of nature, to tell about which neither words nor time is enough. The first mention of the canyon, as a tourist Mecca, dates back to the years of the reign of T. Roosevelt, who was very fond of hunting in these parts and just relaxing.
"American tightrope walker crossed the Grand Canyon without insurance."
Bullshit!
Let him try to cross South Butovo without insurance, a cable and a pole.
Majestic, alluring, mysterious Grand Canyon. To your possible surprise, despite such a strong name, it is far from being the first in size in the series of the largest canyons in the world. so great that over the millennia of its existence, the Earth was able to store sensations and pleasant surprises even for the most experienced lovers of its natural beauty.
Today Dekatop will gallop through the canyons, providing you with clear and hard evidence that we, as before, can excite your spoiled imagination. Still, we are talking about the majestic height and depth created by mother nature herself. So, the 10 largest canyons, in ascending order.
1
This canyon impresses observers with its scope, namely: a depth of almost 2 and a length of 82 kilometers. This is the largest canyon in Europe, it is famous for its amazing nature, unique monuments and educational excursion tours including rafts. I know this canyon firsthand, so I'll tell you something. There is a road through the canyon that connects the north and south of Montenegro, this 80 km section of the road is considered the most dangerous place in the Balkans, as my friend says “Jedna greska i ti si gotov” (One mistake and you are “ready”). The road goes from one side of the canyon to the other, sometimes so narrow that oncoming buses and trucks pass them in turn.
In the narrowest places, the mountains come so close from two sides that there is a feeling of being squeezed, given their height, little sunlight gets to the bottom of the canyon. When it rains, picturesque waterfalls flow down from the mountains, bringing another danger, rockfalls onto the road.
Once I had to spend the night in the canyon. In the middle of the night, the tunnels are closed for repairs, a detour in time and distance is simply impractical, then the cars line up and people go to bed. Pine trees miraculously grow on the walls of the canyon, complementing the unreal picture.
2
Unlike the Grand Canyon, the banks of the Blyde River, which formed it, are covered with green absolutely everything, as in the song. And yet this canyon is incredibly beautiful: rising to a height of 1000 meters, its walls abruptly break off to the bottom of the river, opening a view of the 450-meter waterfall and the "Window of God" plateau.
3
His national park is a chain of separate and interconnected canyons and gorges formed by six rivers. Many tourists have the opportunity to watch the canyon, traveling by train on the El Chepe railway, which rises to a height of more than 2,400 meters.
4
The peculiarity of the Peruvian canyon in its "sharpness" - just like that, unexpectedly, it collapses more than three thousand meters down. This is the command of the bizarre fantasy of the Cotahuasi River, running between two majestic mountain ranges.
The depth of this canyon is 3400 meters. It is located 180 kilometers from Arequipa, a Peruvian city, and was formed during the high seismic activity of the Sabancaya and Hualka volcanoes. Colca Canyon is considered an ideal place for lovers of rafting and mountain biking.
6
The unusual name of this canon is also reinforced by its unique beauty: it is incredibly effective in visualization, since its length is 161 kilometers. True, it is not as deep as its relatives, since it “dives” only 550 meters down.
7
This canyon was formed by the Colorado River, which for millions of years eroded the plateau of the same name. The length of the Great Miracle is 446 kilometers, the width, taking into account the level of the plateau, reaches 29 kilometers, and the depth is an impressive 1,800 meters.
8
The Kali River was named after the great Hindu goddess, as dark and mysterious as her waters. The exact depth of the Gorge is not yet known, since the researchers of the canyon will never come to a consensus about where its edge is located. But if you measure the canyon from the very peak, then it could well become the deepest at a height of 6,800 meters.
9
This canyon differs from its comrades-in-arms not only by its amazing scale, but also by its considerable age. Its valley was formed millions of years ago. The length of the canyon is almost 450 kilometers, and the width is about 30.
10
The scientific expedition, which was organized by the Academy of Sciences of China, called this canyon the first in length and the greatest among the deep gorges of the world. Its length is 504,600 kilometers, and the greatest depth is 6,009 meters.
One more object.
Colca Canyon is located in the southern part of Peru, 160 km from Arequipa. Its length is over 100 km. This is the deepest canyon in the world, its depth from the bottom to the mountain peaks reaches 3400 m, it is twice the size of the Grand Canyon in the USA and unlike it is suitable for life and agriculture. Colca Canyon is located high in the Andes, at altitudes of 3260 meters above sea level.
Kolka Canyon was formed in the valley of the river of the same name. Throughout its length, traces of the activity of the ancient Peruvian peoples, who built numerous agricultural stepped terraces, are visible.
The Colca Canyon (Spanish: Cañon del Colca) is one of the most visited tourist destinations in all of Peru. As one of the deepest canyons in the world, with an altitude difference of 3400 meters, Colca has been inhabited for more than 1500 years by people, the first of which were ethnic tribes of the pre-Inca era. On the lands of the canyon, they managed to create a complex system of agricultural terraces, which occupied more than 10,000 hectares in area. Already after the capture of Peru by the Spaniards, the Collaguas and Cabanas tribes began to expand their cities along the canyon and build churches here. To date, the Andes still have large allotments of terraces that are cultivated by local residents, and the surviving Inca dwellings are even used to store crops.
But tourists visit the Colca Canyon not only for the stunning nature, unique landscapes and colorful settlements. On one of the most high points The canyon contains the Cruz del Condor observation deck, from where you can observe the condors, the world's largest bird, which is often called the master of the Andes, at the closest possible distance.
The Colca Valley, which captures the canyon itself and its surrounding areas, is located in the northeast of the Arequipa department, 151 km from the city of the same name. The highest point of the valley is the currently inactive volcano Ampato with a height of 6288 meters, and the lowest mark falls at the confluence of the Colca and Andamayo rivers (970 m). The valley stretches over 100 km in length and occupies part of the Kolka River basin. There are 16 settlements in this zone, where the way of life and clothes of the 18th-90th centuries are still preserved. The largest of these settlements is the city of Chivay, where tourists often stop for overnight stays during multi-day excursions through the Kolka Valley and the canyon of the same name.
The very name Colca in the Quechua Indian language means "grain barn", since this area, unlike the same Grand Canyon, is quite suitable for life and agriculture. The river of the same name flows along the bottom of the canyon, it was it that caused such a grandiose spectacle to appear and every year continues to increase the depth of the gorge.
Tourists are attracted here primarily by the stunning beauty of these places - from the observation deck of the Condor Cross ( Cruz del Condor), located on one of the highest points, you can watch the majestic flight of condors, being almost at the same height with them. Also, from the observation decks of the canyon, an amazing view of the active volcanoes Ampato, Valka-Valka and Sabancaya opens.
Colca Canyon is also famous for its hotels built near hot springs, so after a tiring walk in the mountains, travelers will find impeccable service and the opportunity to relax in a mineral water pool.
The canyon has other names - the Lost Valley of the Incas, the Valley of Fire, the Valley of Miracles or simply the Territory of the Eagles.
In the valley, in a place called Antahuilki, more than 5,000 hectares of agricultural land have been preserved, cultivated since ancient times. The presence or absence of water plays a crucial role here: the peasants sow the fields depending on the amount of snow that has fallen on the top of the mountain. If there is a lot of it, they sow all the terraces, if it is not enough, only those closest to the river.
The walls of these terraces were built at an angle so that the water flowing from the mountains would linger and irrigate the fields instead of washing them away. The volcanic stone at their base absorbs the heat of the sun during the day and releases it to the soil at night. It turns out a kind of natural heating ...
Below, in the center, there is an ancient swamp, which is mentioned in Inca legends. From time to time, pets and children disappeared into it. It was believed that here mother earth takes sacrifices for herself ...
Nearby, 24 very interesting stones were found in the valley. Each of them is a map of the location of the terraces.
Recently, in the mountains above the valley, where summer residents swarm, ancient Inca burials were found. They are over 800 years old. These are caves carved in stone, painted in different colors. More than 30 mummies were found in them. locals they are not going to rebury them, observing the traditions of their ancestors. However, the mountain in which the caves are hollowed out consists of rather soft rock. And during earthquakes, often its parts collapse onto the road along with ancient graves.
10. Tara River Canyon
The canyon of the Tara River in Montenegro is one of the most majestic creations of nature. Its depth is 1300 meters. The gorge stretching along the Tara River is one of the main attractions of the country. Part of the canyon is part of the Durmitor National Park National Park. The beauty of the canyon attracts many tourists. In the vicinity of the deepest gorge in Europe, there is the Dzhurdzhevich Tara Bridge - another interesting attraction of Montenegro. The canyon is a favorite place for rafters. By the way, Tara is one of the cleanest rivers in Europe. In winter, the gorge attracts skiers with many slopes and good snow cover.
9. Blyde River Canyon
Blyde River Canyon, located in South Africa, ranks 9th in the list of the deepest canyons in the world. Its peculiarity lies in the fact that the banks of the Blyde River are covered with lush vegetation. This makes the canyon the largest green gorge in the world. The maximum depth of the canyon is 1372 meters. The majestic gorge is one of the most amazing sights in South Africa. Tourists enjoy visiting the canyon, where you can admire fantastic African landscapes.
8. Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is one of the most famous and largest canyons. Its depth is 1600 meters. It is located in the state of Colorado, USA, on the territory of the national park of the same name. There are also reservations of three Indian tribes. The canyon is formed by the Colorado River. The Grand Canyon is one of the most unusual and amazingly beautiful places. Due to its unusualness, the Grand Canyon has been carefully studied. It is one of the most visited places by tourists - about 4 million people come to see the Grand Canyon every year.
7. Copper Canyon
Among the deepest canyons in the world is a complex of 6 gorges called the Copper Canyon. It is located in Mexico, in the national park. The maximum depth of the canyon is 1879 meters. The canyon got its name from the Spaniards, who mistook the rocks overgrown with moss and lichen for copper ore. The complex of gorges is a unique ecosystem. It is home to many rare animal species and more than 290 bird species.
6. Sulak Canyon
Sulak Canyon ranks 6th in the list of the deepest canyons in the world. Its depth is 1920 meters. It is located in Dagestan, between mountain ranges Salatau and Gimrinsky. Sulak Canyon is one of the most beautiful places in Dagestan, which is visited by many tourists every year. The plateau offers a fantastic panorama of the Sulak River with a cascade of hydroelectric power plants located on it. Sulak Canyon is not only one of the most beautiful sights of Dagestan. Due to the lack of an observation deck, barriers and railings, the canyon is extremely dangerous at the very top.
5. Leaping Tiger Gorge
Tiger Leaping Gorge in China is one of the deepest canyons on earth. The canyon owes its unusual name to a local legend, according to which a tiger running away from hunters jumped over a turbulent river at its narrowest point. The depth of the canyon is 3000 meters. Getting more accurate data about the canyon is hindered by its inaccessibility.
4. Kolka
The fourth deepest canyon in the world is Kolka. It, like the Cotausi Canyon, is located in Peru. Its depth is 3400 meters. It is believed that the name of the canyon is translated as "grain barn". In ancient times, the Inca tribe cultivated crops in this area - this is evidenced by the terraces that exist here to this day. The canyon was formed as a result of the activity of two volcanoes: Sabankaya and Walka. The canyon attracts not only tourists, but also rafters, lovers of cycling through the mountains. Colca Canyon is interesting not only for the beauty of the environment, but also for the fact that here you can watch condors.
3. Kotausi
One of the deepest canyons on Earth is the Kotausi Canyon. Its depth reaches 3535 meters. It is located in Peru between two mountain ranges: Soliman and Coropuna, and is formed by the Cotausi River. It is not so easy to see the canyon - it is located in places remote from civilization. Despite the inaccessibility, the canyon is very popular with tourists. In the vicinity of Kotausi there are underground hot springs and waterfalls. One of the largest waterfalls, Sipia, is 250 meters high. In the vicinity of the canyon there are several mountain villages, whose inhabitants are engaged in traditional types of crafts, such as the manufacture of carpets and clothes from alpaca wool. Visiting the Kotausi canyon, you can not only admire the wonderful view from the observation deck, but also engage in active recreation: kayaking, paragliding, mountain climbing.
2. Kali Gandaki
On the 2nd place among the deepest canyons on Earth is the Kali Gandaki canyon. It is located in Nepal. In ancient times, the Kali Gandak River, flowing through a grandiose gorge, was a path for transporting goods between Tibet and India. Today, the canyon is one of the sights of Tibet. The exact depth of the canyon remains a matter of controversy. If we consider its depth from the highest mountain peaks, it will be at least 6 kilometers.
1. Yarlung Tsangpo
The deepest canyon on Earth is in Tibet, high in the Himalayas. The greatest depth of the Yarlung Tsangpo canyon is 6009 meters. The Tsangpo River, flowing in a grandiose gorge, looks like a small stream from the height of the canyon. The river is popular with rafters, although rafting is considered extreme. The ecosystem of the canyon is unique - lush vegetation here is adjacent to the snow-capped mountain peaks. These places are difficult to access, so the flora and fauna have been preserved in their original form.