<p>The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Canyon" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Grand Canyon</a> is nearly 446 km (300 miles) long, 29 km (18 miles) wide, and over 1,8 km (1 mile) deep. To the best of my knowledge, there is no other canyon of comparable size in the world.</p>

<p>Is this in fact the case? If no, which canyons are larger? If yes, what made the Grand Canyon so much larger than others? What is, perhaps, a "fusion" of several other, smaller canyons linked by the Colorado River? Were the rock formations surrounding the Grand Canyon in some ways more "continuous" than others in the world? Were there at one time other canyons of comparable size elsewhere in the world that somehow got broken up into smaller entities?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-06-23T15:53:45.753Z
I have reworked the question to state my honest belief that that Grand Canyon is the "greatest" (largest or deepest) and to ask if this is true. This question can be answered objectively, yes or no, (and there is an answer in the comments), which is why I voted to reopen.
Tom Au
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-06-23T17:50:23.903Z
@Tom Au: The Wikipedia link in the first comment should seem to (trivially) provide an objective answer: the Grand Canyon is neither the deepest or longest canyon.
jamesqf
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-19T00:56:20.267Z
"greatest" seems to make this question pointlessly subjective. It's [not the longest or the deepest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yarlung_Zangbo_Grand_Canyon) on earth. Is it the prettiest? Most revenue generating? Maybe change "greatest" to something a bit more objective, or just change the question to "why is the Grand Canyon so [big]".
naught101
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-19T02:36:09.413Z
@naught101: It's the most famous. And the answer may be, that it is the "biggest" canyon accessible to populated areas. (Apparently, there are some bigger ones, but in more remote areas.)
Tom Au
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-19T08:47:02.923Z
@TomAu I think the question needs some revision (because it hasn't been answered yet). Maybe limit yourself to one of the questions (Maybe how such large-scale drainage patterns form)
tobias47n9e
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-17T13:36:16.380Z
Here is a list of large Canyons: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canyon#Largest_canyons
tobias47n9e
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-18T10:15:37.260Z
A side point: many seem to think the Grand in Grand Canyon means it is grand but it comes from the River Grand, now the Colorado River.
Peter Jansson
<geology><geomorphology><erosion>
Is the Grand Canyon the "greatest" canyon in the world?
Tom Au
# Is the Grand Canyon the "greatest" canyon in the world?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-04-17)

The [Grand Canyon](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Canyon) is nearly 446 km (300 miles) long, 29 km (18 miles) wide, and over 1,8 km (1 mile) deep. To the best of my knowledge, there is no other canyon of comparable size in the world.

Is this in fact the case? If no, which canyons are larger? If yes, what made the Grand Canyon so much larger than others? What is, perhaps, a "fusion" of several other, smaller canyons linked by the Colorado River? Were the rock formations surrounding the Grand Canyon in some ways more "continuous" than others in the world? Were there at one time other canyons of comparable size elsewhere in the world that somehow got broken up into smaller entities?

**Tags:** geology, geomorphology, erosion

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: Here is a list of large Canyons: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canyon#Largest_canyons  
> **username_4**: A side point: many seem to think the Grand in Grand Canyon means it is grand but it comes from the River Grand, now the Colorado River.  
> **username_2**: "greatest" seems to make this question pointlessly subjective. It's [not the longest or the deepest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yarlung_Zangbo_Grand_Canyon) on earth. Is it the prettiest? Most revenue generating? Maybe change "greatest" to something a bit more objective, or just change the question to "why is the Grand Canyon so [big]".  
> **username_0**: @username_2: It's the most famous. And the answer may be, that it is the "biggest" canyon accessible to populated areas. (Apparently, there are some bigger ones, but in more remote areas.)  
> **username_3**: @username_0 I think the question needs some revision (because it hasn't been answered yet). Maybe limit yourself to one of the questions (Maybe how such large-scale drainage patterns form)  
> **username_0**: I have reworked the question to state my honest belief that that Grand Canyon is the "greatest" (largest or deepest) and to ask if this is true. This question can be answered objectively, yes or no, (and there is an answer in the comments), which is why I voted to reopen.  
> **username_1**: @username_0: The Wikipedia link in the first comment should seem to (trivially) provide an objective answer: the Grand Canyon is neither the deepest or longest canyon.  

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## 0 answers

