Canyon - Largest Canyons

Largest Canyons

The definition of "largest canyon" is imprecise,as a canyon can be large by its depth, length, or the total area of the canyon system. Also the inaccessibility of the major canyons in the Himalaya contributes to their not being regarded as candidates for the biggest canyon. The definition of "deepest canyon" is similarly imprecise, especially if one includes mountain canyons as well as canyons cut through relatively flat plateaus (which have a somewhat well-defined rim elevation).

The Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon (or Tsangpo Canyon), along the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet, is regarded by some as the deepest canyon in the world at 5,500 m (18,000 ft), and is slightly longer than Grand Canyon. The Kali Gandaki Gorge in midwest Nepal is seen by others to be the deepest canyon, with a 6400 m (21,000 ft) difference between the level of the river and the peaks surrounding it.

The Grand Canyon of northern Arizona with an average depth of one mile and a volume of 4.17 trillion cubic metres, is one of the world's largest canyons, sometimes referred to as one of the world's seven natural wonders. The second largest canyon, and the largest in Africa, is the Fish River Canyon in Namibia.

Copper Canyon in Chihuahua, Mexico is deeper and longer than the Grand Canyon.