Canyon

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/canyon

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the location?Global distribution, found on all continents
2. What is the primary formation agent?Fluvial erosion (river action)
3. What is a canyon and how does it form?A canyon is a deep, steep valley that rivers carve into bedrock over millions of years. The river’s water, sediment, and energy slowly cut the rock, making the canyon grow wider and deeper.
4. Why do canyon walls have cliffs and terraces?Different rock layers erode at different speeds. Harder rocks stay as cliffs while softer rocks wear away, creating the stepped, terraced look.

Fluvial Geomorphology: The study of landforms created by rivers and streams.
Differential Erosion: The process where different rock types erode at different rates, creating varied landforms.
Tectonic Activity: Processes related to the movement and deformation of Earth's crust.
Turbidity Current: A fast-moving underwater current of dense, sediment-laden water.