The largest gorges in the world. The largest canyon in the world is a fantastic sight created by nature
Currently, there are 10 canyons that can fully be called the largest canyons in the world. Their beauty amazes everyone. Reasons for the popularity of these places:
- Extraordinary beauty.
- Value.
- The rivers and volcanoes that formed them.
Canyons of the Tara and Blyde rivers
The canyon on the Tara River, which is located in Montenegro, is rightfully included in the list of the largest canyons. The gorge stretches for 80 km at a depth of 1300 m. this moment it represents the most long canyon in Europe, but inferior in size to the American Grand Canyon. This miracle of nature is located between the famous mountain ranges Sinyaevina and Durmitor (on one side) and Lyubishnia and Zlatni Bor (on the other side). The creation of nature is part of the national park.
Great amount educational tours can offer you local guides, including rafts. There is a road connecting the northern and southern parts of the country. But it is considered the most dangerous route in the Balkans. The tunnels are so small that trucks or other large vehicles in opposite lanes cannot pass at the same time.
Second Blyde River Canyon, which created this miracle, is located in Africa, namely in South Africa. Here all its parts are covered with greenery. Nearby are a 450-meter waterfall and the "Window of God" plateau. From a height of 1000 m, the walls suddenly break off to the bottom of the river, creating a very beautiful view for visiting tourists.
Canyons Copper, Cotahuasi and Kolka
Mexico has copper canyon, which is a chain of separate various gorges interconnected. There are 6 rivers nearby. If you want to see the Mexican natural wonder, you can buy a train ticket from which you can watch the canyon during the trip. It rises to a height of more than 2400 m. This is a great opportunity for tourists to relax and enjoy the beautiful view.
Canyon, which is located in Peru, is special. It suddenly falls on the tourist (more than 3000 m). The mountain chains of the ranges are dominated by the bizarre Cotahuasi River. The depth of Colca is 3400 m. It is located 180 km from Arequipa (a city in Peru). The formation occurred due to the high seismic activity of the volcanoes Sabankaya and Walka. If you are a rafting enthusiast and love mountain biking, then you definitely need to come here. Excellent tourism programs designed for tourists. You will discover the splendor of the entire canyon while cycling. Experienced instructors inform you about rafting.
Fish River, Kali Gendeki Gorge and Grand Canyon in America
The unusual name of the canyon is Fish River. Its unusual beauty delights any tourist. When you look at it, you create such a feeling of spaciousness and boundlessness. Length natural treasure is 161 km. But if we talk about the depth, then it is not so deep (only 550 km). This place is located in Namibia.
Probably the most famous canyon in the world - american grand. The largest canyons in the world do not compare with it in popularity. It was created by the Colorado River, which over a long period (millions of years) eroded the plateau. The length is 446 km with a width of 29 km. Its depth is also impressive (800 m).
Kali Gendeki Gorge was named after the river Kali, which in turn is associated with the name of the famous Hindu goddess. The goddess was considered gloomy and mysterious, which was reflected in the river itself. It is not yet known what is actually the exact depth of the gorge itself. Many researchers of this area are still arguing not only about the depth, but also about where the edge of the gorge is located.
The Caperti Valley in Australia and the Tsangpo Valley in Tibet
The list of the largest canyons is completed by the Caperti Valley and Tsangpo. The valley in Australia is not inferior to either extraordinary beauty or impressive size. The valley appeared many millions of years ago. The Australian treasure is 450 km long and 30 km wide.
The scientific expedition, which was established by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, gave the name to the natural creation, the first in length and the greatest among the deep canyons in the world. The length is 600 km, the depth is 6009 m. The photo of this canyon always appears in travel magazines
The deepest canyon in the world is the Colca Canyon, its depth is more than 3400 meters, and the total length is slightly more than 100 kilometers. He is located in South America, more precisely in the south of Peru and passes through mountain system Andes. The famous Grand Canyon is 2 times smaller than this one, but much fewer tourists come here, perhaps this is due to the fact that its slopes are not so steep.
On the map, the Colca Canyon is located here
maps.google.com/?ll=-15.679781,-72.105215&spn=0.089248,0.144196&t=w&z=13
The canyon has many small villages, still, because the land there is fertile.
Of the living creatures, the Andean Condor is the undisputed leader - this is the largest flying bird (some kind of ostrich is in the lead there) and this canyon is natural place habitat for him. You can often see him circling over the abyss. The wingspan of a condor is 3 meters.
One of the most memorable places is the so-called Condor Cross - an observation deck that can be seen in the top photo (bottom right). Just imagine what the view is there! And by the way, condors often fly up to this observation deck, I’m just sure that it’s a delightful sight. Now he seems to be sitting and resting.
But the Andean Condor "in business"
In the morning you can often see such a landscape ... By the way, I found a panorama, but it weighs 7 MB, no less than 17 thousand pixels in length 🙂 so I post the link upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/fc/Colca_canyon_panorama.jpg . Don't forget to enlarge.
By the way, if you are looking for chip flights, then Utair.ru official website is exactly what you need! I assure you, you won't find cheaper!
Beautiful, isn't it?
I will tell you a little about the history of this canyon. Kolka has been inhabited by people for more than half a thousand years - these are the great-grandchildren of the pre-Indian civilization. IN mountain valley these tribes managed to create a system of agricultural terraces that have survived to this day. They are now used by modern residents.
And here's to dessert! Found an amateur video from the observation deck. At first, the clarity is not very clear, but such amateur videos are much livelier. At the end of the video, pay attention to where else it is - right next to the birds, class ...
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Canyons are considered one of the most amazing and attractive creations of nature. For millions of years, stormy river streams have flowed on the surface of the earth, neutralizing all obstacles in their path and gradually washing away deep valleys. Over time, the turbulent streams of water dried up, and in their place only deep gorges. These are different amazing creations nature not only with a spectacular appearance, but also with a unique ecosystem. Many of them are habitats for rare species of animals and birds; the rarest plant species grow in the canyons. The deepest canyons of the planet are incredibly beautiful and, at the same time, very dangerous. Steep cliffs ready to collapse at any moment, a swift river flowing along the bottom, predatory animals and insects - dangers only attract inspired tourists to these places.
Colca Canyon is one of the leaders of the planet in terms of depth, it is about 3,400 meters. Given that the length of the canyon is more than 100 kilometers, it can safely claim the title of one of the largest on the planet. The location of the canyon is also very unusual, it is located in the Andes, at an altitude of 3,260 meters above sea level. Main Feature these places is unique nature, the Colca Canyon was chosen as a habitat by the largest bird of prey - the condor. Its wingspan can reach 3.3 meters, for admiring these majestic birds and those around them. natural beauties the canyon is equipped with several excellent viewing platforms, including La Cruz del Condor.
Many travelers while visiting the canyon tend to get into the Sangaye area. On its territory there is a unique plateau with tropical climate- a real tropical oasis with palm trees, surrounded by snow-capped mountain peaks. It is best to explore the picturesque places of the canyon accompanied by a guide, as the danger of collapses remains in the gorge. While walking along the most picturesque places one of the picturesque Andean villages is worth a visit. Small mountain settlements can be found on both sides of the gorge.
The depth of the Tsangpo canyon, located in Tibet, is more than 6,000 meters, according to this indicator it is the undisputed leader. The length of the gorge is about 500 kilometers, it has a very unusual horseshoe shape. The mountains surrounding the canyon are incredibly high, their snow-capped peaks merge with the sky and become barely distinguishable. It is they who attract lovers of rock climbing, conquering mountain peaks surrounding the canyon, only great professionals can do it. Among distinctive features It is also worth highlighting the unique ecosystem of the Tsangpo Canyon. Depending on the altitude, the climate varies from arctic to subtropical.
The largest in Australia is the Caperti Canyon. It is distinguished not only by its impressive scale, but also by its considerable age. The valley was formed millions of years ago, so today its slopes no longer seem so steep. At the same time, extreme sections of sheer cliffs are found here. Climbing fans are not recommended to conquer them alone, the rocks are very fragile and can collapse.
The Kali Gandaki Canyon and the river of the same name flowing along its bottom got their name in honor of the Hindu goddess Kali, who is the personification of the powerful forces of nature. The exact depth of the canyon remains unknown, but it is estimated to be over 6,000 meters. flank the canyon majestic mountains Annapurna and Dhaulagiri, whose height is more than 8,000 meters, admire them every year snow-capped peaks thousands of travelers come. If for tourists these places are of interest, first of all, from a “natural” point of view, then for the indigenous people they have been considered sacred for a long time.
Without a doubt, we can say that the most famous in the world is the Grand Canyon of Colorado, it is located on the territory of a unique national park of the same name. The length of the canyon is 446 kilometers, and the depth is about 1,800 meters. Despite the fact that these modest parameters do not allow the canyon to claim the world championship, it does not cease to be a landmark of world importance and a center of attraction for millions of tourists. The age of the canyon is about 10 million years, it was carefully studied by scientists who discovered many amazing features.
Canyon with so much unusual name located in Namibia, among its distinctive features is an incredibly spectacular and harmonious appearance. The length of the canyon is 161 kilometers, and the depth is only 550 meters, which is very modest in comparison with the "world giants". At the same time, in terms of beauty, it can really claim one of the first places in the world. The name of the canyon was given by the long river Namibia - Fish River. The formation of the canyon is continuous, during the rainy season the river is a swift and seething stream. During the drought period, on the contrary, the river dries up a lot, so small lakes form at the bottom of the canyon.
Cotahuasi Canyon is the deepest in Peru, its depth is 3,535 meters. The canyon is framed by two majestic mountain ranges– Soliman and Koropun, also among the local natural attractions worth highlighting beautiful waterfalls, the most beautiful of which is Sipia. Translated from the Quechua language, the name of the canyon can be translated as “home for all”, during the colonial period, many miniature settlements were founded on the slopes of the gorge and mountain villages. The Spanish colonialists also built bullrings here, some of which have survived to this day.
In Montenegro, there is a canyon of the Tara River, it is the deepest in Europe. The depth of the gorge is about 1,300 meters, and the length is about 80 kilometers. The canyon is located on the territory of the Durmitor National Park, therefore it invariably attracts the attention of ecotourism adherents. The Tara River and the canyon formed by it received their name in honor of the ancient Illyrian tribe that once lived in these places. The Tara River is one of the main attractions of the country, it has an unusual cascading structure and has more than 40 significant elevation changes along its length. The water in the river is crystal clear, you can drink it without fear. Experienced Tourists, who enjoyed this event, note the amazing taste river water which cannot be compared with any other.
In South Africa, in the province of Mpumalanga, one of the outstanding natural attractions of the planet is located - the canyon of the Blyde River. His maximum depth is 1372 meters, and the length of the gorge reaches 26 kilometers. The development of the canyon by man began more than 100,000 years ago. In ancient times, the valley was home to the Swazi tribes. During the study of the canyon, scientists discovered cave drawings, as well as the remains of ancient people who fell in intertribal warriors.
Located in Mexico, Copper Canyon is a collection of six small canyons, which are usually considered as a single natural formation. The name of the canyon fully reflects one of its main distinguishing features; the slopes of the gorge have a rich copper-red hue. Over time, the slopes of the canyon were covered with green moss, which the Spanish colonialists who arrived in these places mistook for copper deposits. Walks on the steep mountain slopes remain one of the favorite attractions among tourists, and the most fortunate may have the opportunity to see rare species of local predators. It is for this reason that unaccompanied walks in some areas of the gorge are prohibited.
At a distance of about 240 kilometers from the Grand Canyon of Colorado is another outstanding attraction - Antelope Canyon. It is located on the territory of the Navajo reservation, so travelers can get to the canyon only after paying a fee and accompanied by a guide. Conventionally, the canyon is divided into two - upper and lower, both of which are distinguished by incredibly beautiful rock formations that serve as a center of attraction for photographers from all over the world. Visitors to these places will have a great opportunity to walk among the fabulously beautiful sandy rocks, through the narrow gaps between which light penetrates and gives these places an atmosphere of mystery.
The location of the Charyn canyon is Charyn national park in Kazakhstan, the length of the gorge is 154 kilometers, and its depth varies from 150 to 300 meters. Despite the relatively modest scale, the number of attractions and unique features the canyon is simply amazing. Mandatory item excursion program is to visit the Valley of Castles. This is the name of the area in which amazing natural formations are concentrated - rocks, shaped like real castle towers. A lot of pleasant surprises await nature lovers. More than 1,500 plants, about 80 animal species and more than 100 bird species are represented in the canyon. It should be noted that many representatives local flora and fauna are listed in the Red Book of Kazakhstan. 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 most deep 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 retain large allotments of terraces, which 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 canyon is located observation platform"Cruz del Condor", 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 the night during multi-day excursions along the Kolka valley and the canyon of the same name.
The very name Kolka in the language of the Quechua Indians 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 opens amazing view on active volcanoes Ampato, Walka-Walka and Sabancaia.
Colca Canyon is also famous for its hot spring hotels, so after tiresome walk travelers will enjoy impeccable service and the opportunity to relax in a pool with mineral water through the mountains.
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, 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.
The Grand Canyon or Grand Canyon is the largest gorge in the world. It is located in US state Arizona, on the picturesque Cororado Plateau. Today the canyon is part of national park grand canyon, as well as in the Indian reservations of the Hualapai, Havasupai and Navajo tribes.
The Grand Canyon is located in the northern part central region Arizona, on the Colorado River. It stretches from Marble Gorge to Grand Wash Cliffs. Its length is 446 km, its width is 16 km, and its depth is at least 1800 km.
History of Grand Canyon discovery
The largest gorge in the world is a huge geological landmark. Scientists believe that the Anasazi Indians, who inhabited these lands more than 1000 years ago, were the first to discover it. The massive gorge was also visited by conquistadors from Spain. However, the gloomy canyon did not cause them positive emotions, so for many years only Indians lived near it.
The term "canyon" was also coined by the Spaniards. In translation, this word means "chimney". History has preserved the names of people who tried to convert local Indians to Christianity. For example, Father Garces was such a missionary. In 1776, he arrived at the Grand Canyon, to the Havasupai tribe. He failed to persuade the Indians to his faith, but he was the first to mark the river that flowed nearby. Garces named her "Colorado", which means "painted" in Spanish.
Features of the largest gorge in the world
The Grand Canyon looks very impressive. This is an incredibly huge abyss, cut by the turbulent streams of the Colorado. The river continues to gradually deepen the gorge. She daily washes tons of gravel and clay from there, carrying them away with her strong current. During floods, even large rocks are washed away by water.
The largest gorge in the world is a product of the powerful waters of Colorado. The river penetrated deeper and deeper into the earth, creating a canyon. Millions of years passed before it became what we see it today. Very interesting is the fact that in this place the earth's crust gradually rose. For 5 million years, its rise was 1200 m. Thus, the plateau was rising, and the river flow crashed into it, washing away soft limestones, shales and sandstones.
At the moment, granites, the most ancient rocks, have already come out at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Their destruction is very slow. The waters of the Colorado River rush through the canyon at a speed of about 20 km per hour. They take with them huge masses of clay and sand. Therefore, the water in the river is completely opaque. The destructive effect of the stream is enhanced by sand and stones. Over time, even very strong granite is rubbed from such an impact.
Grand Canyon - a spectacular place
The boundless expanse of the largest gorge in the world does not look like a failure in the earth's crust. It is full of heaps of cliffs of the most bizarre forms. Under the influence of wind, water and landslides, the walls of the Grand Canyon took on the shape of huge towers, pyramids and fortress walls. This is an unusually majestic and beautiful sight.
The powerful walls of the canyon are covered with multi-colored stripes due to layers of different rocks. The coloring of the gorge looks different depending on the time of day and season. Condors, hawks, eagles and other birds soar over the abyss. On the slopes of the largest gorge in the world grow agaves, cacti and yuccas. In its upper part, you can see firs and pines.
Is it possible to get to the bottom of the gorge
You can go down to the Grand Canyon if you have the courage. To get from the edge of the gorge to the river bank, you will need to walk about 11 km. The descent will take several hours. Climbing back is much more difficult. Warning signs are placed throughout the canyon that it is not recommended to descend and ascend on the same day. This is due to changes in temperature and pressure. There are significant temperature fluctuations. If at the top the temperature is 15 degrees, then at the bottom it rises to 40 degrees.
If you look at the canyon from above, it looks dry and gloomy. It is characterized by stepped slopes. This species is due to the dry climate. There is practically no rain here, which could wash away the top layer. rocks. The slopes of the huge gorge clearly show the geological development of the planet. The oldest rocks are about 1.7 billion years old! Today, the largest gorge in the world is considered a National Park. More than 100 million tourists have visited it. Since 1979, it has been considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
