Deep Cuts! Why Do Canyons Get Deeper?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why do canyons get deeper?

The Big Idea

A canyon is a deep, steep-sided valley, and some are more than a mile deep! A river flows along the bottom, and it slowly cuts down into the rock, grain by grain. It's a very slow saw! Flowing water carves downward. Let's see how!

Step 1

Step one: water flows downhill. Rain and melted snow flow downhill and gather into a river. The steeper the land, the faster it rushes. Fast water is strong water.

Step 2

Step two: sand and pebbles scrape. The river carries sand, pebbles, and rocks. They scrape and grind the riverbed, like sandpaper. Bit by bit, the river digs down.

Step 3

Step three: the river keeps cutting. Slowly the land is pushed up, and the river keeps cutting down through it. Rain and rockfalls widen the sides. Over millions of years, that makes a deep canyon.

A Closer Look

Let's look at a canyon wall. The rim is the top edge. The layers are like pages in a book. The lowest, deepest layers are usually the oldest. And down there, the river is still cutting.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! The Grand Canyon in Arizona is about 1.6 kilometers deep, and it was carved by the Colorado River. Scientists think the Colorado River began carving the Grand Canyon several million years ago. The canyon walls show layers of rock, and some of the rock is over a billion years old. Grown-up note: stay behind the railings at canyon rims, because the wind and loose edges are dangerous.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Try this with a grown-up. Pour a little water down a pile of sand, outside. Watch the tiny channel it carves. What happens if you pour faster?

Outro

So canyons get deeper because a river keeps cutting, a tiny bit at a time. Amazing, right? Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!