A canyon (from Spanish : cañón ; archaic British English spelling: cañon ), gorge or chasm , is a deep cleft between escarpments or cliffs resulting from weathering and the erosive activity of a river over geologic time scales . Rivers have a natural tendency to cut through underlying surfaces, eventually wearing away rock layers as sediments are removed downstream. A river bed will gradually reach a baseline elevation, which is the same elevation as the body of water into which the river drains. The processes of weathering and erosion will form canyons when the river's headwaters and estuary are at significantly different elevations, particularly through regions where softer rock layers are intermingled with harder layers more resistant to weathering.
33-768: The Red River Gorge is a canyon system on the Red River in east-central Kentucky , United States. Geologically it is part of the Pottsville Escarpment . The gorge lies within the Daniel Boone National Forest and was subsequently designated the Red River Gorge Geological Area , an area of around 29,000 acres (12,000 ha; 120 km; 45 sq mi). It was designated a National Natural Landmark and National Archaeological District, and listed on
66-504: A Kentucky native farmer and author to write a book, The Unforeseen Wilderness , advocating the preservation of the gorge in its natural state. The struggle of wills lasted several decades, involved two proposed dam sites and finally concluded with Red River's entry into the National Wild and Scenic River system on December 3, 1993, when President Bill Clinton signed "H.R.914 - Red River Designation Act of 1993," into law. The bill
99-527: A second edition in 2007. The continued establishment of new routes required the latest edition to the guidebook to become two volumes, Red River Gorge Climbs South and Red River Gorge Climbs North . Ray Ellington's newest book, Miller Fork Climbing , explores hundreds of routes in the ever-growing Miller Fork Recreational Preserve. The Red River Gorge is also known for its hiking trails that range in difficulty from beginner to advanced. Over 60 mi (97 km) of trails, open only to hiking, are maintained by
132-476: A very diverse biology. The Gorge is home to a great variety of wildlife including hawks, owls, woodpeckers, hummingbirds, deer, fox, black bears, and two venomous snakes: the copperhead and the timber rattlesnake . It is also home to several endangered species including the white-haired goldenrod which is found only in Red River Gorge. Experts believe that plants of Canadian origin were established in
165-579: Is actually 1 km wider than the Grand Canyon, making it the widest canyon in the world. Some canyons have notable cultural significance. Evidence of archaic humans has been discovered in Africa's Olduvai Gorge . In the southwestern United States, canyons are important archeologically because of the many cliff-dwellings built in such areas, largely by the ancient Pueblo people who were their first inhabitants. The following list contains only
198-630: Is located in the Red River Gorge in Slade, Kentucky . The center features interpretive exhibits about the area's geology, natural history and cultural history. Visitors can get maps, information about trails, camping and other activities. Canyon A canyon may also refer to a rift between two mountain peaks, such as those in ranges including the Rocky Mountains , the Alps , the Himalayas or
231-676: Is occasionally used in the United Kingdom . In South Africa, kloof (in Krantzkloof Nature Reserve ) is used along with canyon (as in Blyde River Canyon ) and gorge (in Oribi Gorge ). Most canyons were formed by a process of long-time erosion from a plateau or table-land level. The cliffs form because harder rock strata that are resistant to erosion and weathering remain exposed on
264-599: 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 on Earth at 5,500 metres (18,000 ft). It is slightly longer than the Grand Canyon in
297-598: Is soluble to a certain extent, cave systems form in the rock. When a cave system collapses, a canyon is left, as in the Mendip Hills in Somerset and Yorkshire Dales in Yorkshire , England. A box canyon is a small canyon that is generally shorter and narrower than a river canyon, with steep walls on three sides, allowing access and egress only through the mouth of the canyon. Box canyons were frequently used in
330-644: Is the Fish River Canyon in Namibia . In August 2013, the discovery of Greenland 's Grand Canyon was reported, based on the analysis of data from Operation IceBridge . It is located under an ice sheet. At 750 kilometres (470 mi) long, it is believed to be the longest canyon in the world. Despite not being quite as deep or long as the Grand Canyon, the Capertee Valley in Australia
363-566: The Andes . Usually, a river or stream carves out such splits between mountains. Examples of mountain-type canyons are Provo Canyon in Utah or Yosemite Valley in California's Sierra Nevada . Canyons within mountains, or gorges that have an opening on only one side, are called box canyons. Slot canyons are very narrow canyons that often have smooth walls. Steep-sided valleys in the seabed of
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#1732779737532396-656: The National Register of Historic Places . The 13,379-acre (5,414 ha; 54.14 km; 20.905 sq mi) Clifty Wilderness Area lies entirely within the geological area in the Red River Gorge. This intricate canyon system features an abundance of high sandstone cliffs , rock shelters , waterfalls , and natural bridges . There are more than 100 natural sandstone arches in the Red River Gorge Geological Area. The multitude of sandstone and cliff-lines helped this area become one of
429-458: The Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves ' Wild Rivers Program. Because of its unusual and rugged nature, the Red River Gorge features a remarkable variety of ecological zones. Nada Tunnel is a 900-foot-long (270 m), 12-foot-wide (3.7 m), and 13-foot-high (4.0 m) logging tunnel built between 1910 and 1912. Rock and dirt were removed by dynamite , steam drills, and hand tools. One man
462-469: The Paleoindian period. Rock shelters are particularly valuable as archeological sites because they are protected from weathering related to precipitation. Plant materials and other relics, such as woven mats and leather moccasins that would decompose in more typical sites are well-preserved in the dry, nitrate -rich soils found in rock shelters. Sites in the area yielded some of the earliest evidence of
495-461: The United States , place names generally use canyon in the southwest (due to their proximity to Spanish-speaking Mexico ) and gorge in the northeast (which is closer to French Canada ), with the rest of the country graduating between these two according to geography. In Canada , a gorge is usually narrow while a ravine is more open and often wooded. The military-derived word defile
528-626: The continental slope are referred to as submarine canyons . Unlike canyons on land, submarine canyons are thought to be formed by turbidity currents and landslides . The word canyon is Spanish in origin ( cañón , pronounced [kaˈɲon] ), with the same meaning. The word canyon is generally used in North America , while the words gorge and ravine (French in origin) are used in Europe and Oceania , though gorge and ravine are also used in some parts of North America. In
561-460: The western United States as convenient corrals, with their entrances fenced. The definition of "largest canyon" is imprecise, because a canyon can be large by its depth, its 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"
594-546: The 20th century; 442 sites are contributing sites in the National Register district. Clifty Wilderness is a 13,379-acre (54.14 km; 20.905 sq mi) wilderness area contained entirely within the Red River Gorge Geological Area. The Red River Gorge is a popular destination for rock climbers. The area has numerous cliffs in the gorge and in the surrounding areas. The vast number of bolted routes in overhanging, pocketed sandstone draws climbers from all over
627-479: The Forest Service and are located throughout the park (some trails are designated for horses). There are many campgrounds in the area. Primitive camping, also known as backpack camping, is permitted in the gorge if the camper(s) obtains an overnight permit. Camping is not permitted within 300 ft (91 m) of any road or designated trail. No camping in rock shelters or within 100 ft (30 m) of
660-560: The Kentucky State Legislature and the Kennedy administration for immediate construction of a flood control dam . The United States Congress ultimately approved the measure and provided funding. The Army Corps of Engineers set about their business of making the structure a reality; however, many felt that such actions would destroy the unique ecosystem residing in the dam inundation area. The Sierra Club spearheaded
693-543: The Red River Gorge area during the Pliocene-Quaternary glaciation which started about 2.58 million years ago. These plants grow in the gorge's sheltered canyons and include diverse species such as purple fringed orchid Platanthera psycodes , Canadian lily Lilium canadense , and Canadian yew Taxus canadensis . Rock shelters and other sites in the Red River Gorge Geological Area contain artifacts of prehistoric occupancy by indigenous people, beginning with
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#1732779737532726-581: The Red River Gorge. First was Red River Gorge Climber's Guide by Frank T Becker in 1975. The explosion of climbing activity since that seminal work led to a succession of other guidebooks, including Rawk! A Climber's Guide to the Red River Gorge by Ed Benjamin and Ed Pearsall, published in 1978, Red River Gorge Climbs by John H. Bronaugh, published in 1993, and Selected Climbs at Red River Gorge Kentucky by Porter Jarrard and Chris Snyder, published in 1997. More recent published guidebooks include Ray Ellington's Red River Gorge Rock Climbs, published in 2005 with
759-596: The United States, with an average depth of 1,600 metres (5,200 ft) and a volume of 4.17 trillion cubic metres (147 trillion cubic feet), is one of the world's largest canyons. It was among the 28 finalists of the New 7 Wonders of Nature worldwide poll. (Some referred to it as one of the seven natural wonders of the world .) The largest canyon in Europe is Tara River Canyon . The largest canyon in Africa
792-627: The United States. Others consider the Kali Gandaki Gorge in midwest Nepal to be the deepest canyon, with a 6,400-metre (21,000 ft) difference between the level of the river and the peaks surrounding it. Vying for the deepest canyon in the Americas is the Cotahuasi Canyon and Colca Canyon , in southern Peru. Both have been measured at over 3,500 metres (11,500 ft) deep. The Grand Canyon of northern Arizona in
825-462: The base of any cliff. One of the most popular destinations is Gray's Arch, one of the many natural arches in the park. Gray's Arch is accessible via the Gray's Arch Loop hiking trail (4 mi (6.4 km)), hikers can scramble up the back side of the arch, although this activity is considered extremely dangerous and can lead to injury or death. The Daniel Boone National Forest Gladie Visitor Center
858-746: The canyon walls, in a process known as frost wedging. Canyon walls are often formed of resistant sandstones or granite . Sometimes large rivers run through canyons as the result of gradual geological uplift. These are called entrenched rivers , because they are unable to easily alter their course. In the United States, the Colorado River in the Southwest and the Snake River in the Northwest are two examples of tectonic uplift . Canyons often form in areas of limestone rock. As limestone
891-615: The domestication of plants found in the eastern United States. The Red River Gorge, Clifty Wilderness, and the Indian Creek area were designated as a National Archaeological District and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003. The National Register district covers 37,217 acres (15,061 ha) of land; as of 2005, it included 29,116 acres (11,783 ha) in the national forest and 8,101 acres (3,278 ha) of private land. It contains 664 known prehistoric and historic sites that date from more than 11,000 years ago to
924-650: The formation of a group opposed to the construction of the dam. This group obtained the help of Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas by participating in a Dam Protest Hike which drew local and national attention to the situation. The Dam Protest Hike took place on November 18, 1967, at the Clifty Wilderness area junction of Swift Camp Creek and the Red River, Highway 715. In 1971, the University Press of Kentucky commissioned Wendell Berry ,
957-456: The valley walls. Canyons are much more common in arid areas than in wet areas because physical weathering has a more localized effect in arid zones. The wind and water from the river combine to erode and cut away less resistant materials such as shales . The freezing and expansion of water also serves to help form canyons. Water seeps into cracks between the rocks and freezes, pushing the rocks apart and eventually causing large chunks to break off
990-608: The world to "the Red" as it is known. Climbing in the region is often done at many separate small cliffs. Most climbs are a single pitch and most cliffs are less than 200 ft (61 m) tall. There are numerous traditional and sport climbing routes in the region, although the latter are more dominant. Many cliffs lie within Daniel Boone National Forest ; however several important cliffs are located on private land and in two privately owned preserves created to allow climbing access: A number of climbing guidebooks have been published for
1023-590: The world's top rock climbing destinations and is home to the Red River Gorge Climbers' Coalition . The area is nicknamed the Red by climbers. Kentucky's Natural Bridge State Park is immediately adjacent to this area, featuring one of the largest natural bridges in the Red River Gorge. The section of the Red River in the upper gorge is also a legally designated Kentucky Wild River by the Kentucky General Assembly through
Red River Gorge - Misplaced Pages Continue
1056-448: Was killed during tunnel construction when he attempted to thaw frozen dynamite which exploded when he set it near a fire. The tunnel has often been described as the "Gateway to Red River Gorge" for the shortcut it provides motorists. The Red River's tendency to flood offered downstream residents much misery. In 1962 the "Great Flood of Clay City ," the worst seen in 102 years, moved both government officials and local communities to lobby
1089-623: Was sponsored by U.S. Representative Hal Rogers and provides federal protection for a 19.4-mile (31.2 km) section of the river. This legislation precluded the construction of any dam on the Red River, helping to preserve the Gorge as it exists today. The Red River Gorge's Sky Bridge appears in the 1955 film The Kentuckian , starring and directed by Burt Lancaster . It was also the first major motion picture filmed in Kentucky. The Red River Gorge Geological Area, including Clifty Wilderness, has
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