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The word canyon is Spanish in origin (cañon); in some parts of the United States, canyons are sometimes called gorges (the British English word) or notches.

In the southwestern United States, canyons are important archeologically because of the many cliff-dwellings built there, largely by the Ancient Pueblo Peoples.

Sometimes large rivers run through canyons as the result of gradual geologic uplift. These are called entrenched rivers, because they are unable to easily alter course. The Colorado River and the Snake River in the northwestern United States are two examples of this.

Canyons often form in areas of limestoneshale overlaid by limestone. Cumberland Plateau, Tennessee Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed of mineral calcite (calcium carbonate). The primary source of this calcite is usually marine organisms. These organisms secrete shells that settle out of t rock. Limestone is to a certain extent soluble, so caveAlternate meanings: Cave (disambiguation A cave is a natural underground void. Cave types and formation Caves are formed by geologic processes. These may involve a combination of chemical processes, tectonic forces and atmospheric influences. Primary cave systems form in the rock. When these collapse a canyon is left, for example in the Mendip HillsThe Mendip Hills are found in north Somerset, England. The hills are home to a number of limestone features, including caves ( Wookey Hole), limestone pavements, and a number of gorges, most famously Cheddar Gorge. The hills form the northern boundary to in SomersetThis page is about the county of Somerset in the United Kingdom. For other meanings of Somerset, see Somerset (disambiguation). Somerset is a county in the south-west of England. Somerset adjoins Gloucestershire to the north east, Wiltshire to the east, D and Yorkshire Moors in YorkshireThis article is about the English county. For other uses, see Yorkshire (disambiguation). traditional county. White Yorkshire rose. Yorkshire is the largest traditional county of England, covering some 6,000 sq. 15,000 km²) with a population of some five, EnglandEngland is the largest, the most populous, and the most densely populated of the four " Home Nations" which make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK). Occupying the south-eastern portion of the island of Great Britain, England.

The world's two largest canyons are the:

• Grand CanyonThe Grand Canyon is a colorful, steep-sided gorge, carved by the Colorado River, in northern Arizona. The canyon is one of the seven natural wonders of the world and is largely contained in the Grand Canyon National Park one of the first national parks in in ArizonaArizona was the 48th state admitted to the United States and is part of the Southwest United States. It is one of the Four Corners states, south and east of the Colorado River, bordering New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, California and Mexico. Its major cities ar, and the
• Copper Canyon in Chihuahua, Mexico

The Yarlung Tsangpo Canyon along the Brahmaputra in Tibet may actually be the world's largest canyon.

Other well-known canyon systems include:

• Avon Gorge in Bristol, England
• Cataract Gorge in Launceston, Australia
• Cheddar Gorge in Somerset, England
• Colca Canyon along the Colca River in Peru
• Fish River Canyon in Namibia
• Hells Canyon in Idaho and Oregon
• Ironbridge Gorge in Shropshire, England
• Palo Duro Canyon in Texas
• Red River Gorge in Kentucky
• Royal Gorge in Colorado

Other lesser-known canyon systems include:

• Black Dragon Canyon in Utah

The Blue Mountains west of Sydney in New South Wales, Australia contain many canyons carved into the sandstone rock.

See also: list of landforms, geomorphology, geology, earth science, canyoning.