# Canyons and gorges

Canyons and gorges are impressive geological wonders characterized by deep, narrow valleys with steep rocky walls that were carved out by the flow of a river or stream and erosion over time. The unique and dramatic landscape offered by each and every canyon and gorge makes them popular natural attractions all over the world.

## Destinations
### Africa

* -27.71869417.5785831 Fish River Canyon, Namibia. The largest canyon in the Africa and second largest in the world. (updated Jan 2024)
* -24.56388930.80752 Blyde River Canyon, South Africa. Blyde River is very much a "green canyon", being almost completely covered in subtropical vegetation. (updated Jan 2024)

### Asia

* 24.166667121.3333333 Taroko Gorge, Taiwan. This 19 km (12 mi) long canyon in the east of Taiwan has a number of stunning hiking trails. (updated Jan 2024)
* 27.235936100.1324814 Tiger Leaping Gorge, China. (updated Jan 2024)

### Europe

* 69.520226.59665 Kevo Canyon, Utsjoki, Finland. The largest canyon of Finland. (updated Jun 2024)
* 43.7377786.3638896 Verdon Gorge, France. One of the most beautiful canyons in Europe. (updated Jan 2024)

### Oceania

* -33.0483150.1347 Capertee Valley, New South Wales, Australia. The second-widest canyon in the world, even wider than the Grand Canyon. (updated Jan 2024)
* -24.258131.5638 Kings Canyon, Red Centre, Northern Territory, Australia. (updated Jan 2024)
* -17.448789128.5460559 Cathedral Gorge and Echidna Chasm, Purnululu National Park, Kimberley, Western Australia. (updated Jan 2024)

### North America

* 36.0553-112.12210 Grand Canyon, United States. (updated Jan 2024)
* 35.9062-81.914311 Linville Gorge, United States. A rugged nature preserve off the tourist trail in North Carolina. (updated Jan 2024)
* 36.1553-109.50912 Canyon de Chelly, United States. Not far from the Grand Canyon, this national monument is smaller but at least as beautiful as its more famous cousin. It's also home to ancient ruins left by the Ancestral Puebloans. (updated Jan 2024)
* 27.516111-107.76583313 Copper Canyon (Barrancas del Cobre), Mexico. A group of six canyons formed by six different rivers. The walls of the canyons have a copper-green color, which is the source of the name. (updated Jan 2024)
* 16.85-93.1333314 Cañón del Sumidero (Sumidero Canyon), Mexico. This canyon is best explored in a boat ride on the Grijalva River. (updated Jan 2024)

### South America

* -15.597222-71.87916715 Colca Canyon, Peru. This canyon is twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, though its walls are not as steep. (updated Jan 2024)
* -16.495833-68.13333316 La Paz, Bolivia. A city built in a canyon, resulting in beautiful urban landscapes and unique city planning decisions like a public transit system based on aerial cable cars. (updated Jan 2024)

## Stay safe

Many canyons are found in arid and semi-arid climates. See arid region safety for tips on staying healthy in such environments. Also refer to packing for a week of hiking.
If hiking down into a canyon and back, be careful not to overtire yourself. On a typical hike up a mountain, the downhill second half is less tiring than the uphill first half, and your hiking intuitions are probably accustomed to this. A canyon is different: the first half down into the canyon is easy and the second half may be much more tiring. If you rely on your instincts to decide when to turn around in a down-and-up canyon hike, you might end up too tired to keep going on the climb up out of the canyon. This is a common problem for visitors to the Grand Canyon!
Flash floods are a particular risk in canyons because a lot of water may be funneled to the narrow area at the bottom. Seek expert advice, always have an escape route, and be careful where you camp.

## See also

* Waterways
* Mountain ranges