Top 10 Deepest Canyons in the World

#1: Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon, Tibet (Length: 313 mi; Max Depth: 19,728 ft)

Winding through the eastern Himalayas, the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon stretches roughly 313 miles across southeastern Tibet and drops a staggering 19,728 feet from riverbed to mountaintop—making it the world’s deepest gorge. Carved by the Yarlung Tsangpo River (known downstream as the Brahmaputra), this chasm slices through peaks exceeding 25,000 feet, creating a corridor of extremes: subtropical forests at its base, alpine meadows mid-slope, and permanent snowfields above.

Geologically, the canyon formed as the Indian Plate thrust beneath the Eurasian Plate, uplifting the Himalayas and providing steep gradients for torrential erosion. As winter snows melt in spring, the Tsangpo swells with glacial runoff, roaring through narrows so tight that British surveyors in the early 20th century—like expedition leader Frank Kingdon-Ward—deemed them “impassable.” For centuries, local Sherpa and Monpa guides navigated narrow ledges carved into limestone walls, transporting salt and wool between valleys in caravans precariously balanced above the abyss.

Ecologically, the canyon hosts one of the world’s most diverse altitudinal biomes. At 6,000 feet, broadleaf rhododendron forests burst into bloom each March, painting slopes pink and red. Descend to 3,000 feet, and lush bamboo groves shelter rare red pandas and clouded leopards. At river level, subtropical vines cling to limestone cliffs, and croton trees bear aromatic leaves used by tribes in ceremonial incense. Ornithologists flock here to spot Himalayan monals and lammergeiers riding updrafts along cliff faces.

Hidden gems include the Pemako Plateau, a remote sanctuary for Tibetan Buddhists seeking visions. Monks have meditated in caves overlooking rapids for centuries, believing the canyon’s roar to be the voice of Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of compassion. Petroglyphs at Tingri Ridge hint at an earlier era of Bon shamanism, their sun and spiral motifs etched into cliff bands now bathed in alpenglow.

Anecdotal stories of early explorers blend heroism and folly. In 1913, explorer Frederick Bailey’s party narrowly escaped a flash flood that swept away their pack yaks, forcing them to scramble hundreds of feet up sheer walls to safety. More recently, whitewater kayakers and raft teams have tested the Tsangpo’s rapids—Grade V+ in many sections—yet only a handful have completed the full descent due to political sensitivities and logistical hurdles.

Despite its remoteness, the canyon faces modern pressures. Proposed hydroelectric dams promise regional power but threaten to alter flow regimes, sediment transport, and fragile ecosystems. Conservationists urge transboundary cooperation between China and India to balance energy needs with ecological integrity.

Descending into the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon is to confront Earth’s raw dynamism: tectonic uplift and fluvial erosion in relentless dance. Here, water has sculpted some of the planet’s most dramatic relief, forging a living corridor where geology, biology, and human spirituality meet at the depths of creation.

#2: Kali Gandaki Gorge, Nepal (Length: 100 mi; Max Depth: 18,278 ft)

Carved between Salzkammergut mountain giants Dhaulagiri (26,795 ft) and Annapurna I (26,545 ft), the Kali Gandaki Gorge in Nepal plunges up to 18,278 feet from snowline to riverbed. Spanning roughly 100 miles, it is often cited as the world’s second-deepest canyon. Revered as the world’s first Himalayan highway, the gorge hosts the ancient Muktinath Temple—an important pilgrimage site—rock-hewn into cliffs at 12,200 feet.

The Kali Gandaki River’s furious flow began carving the gorge some 5 million years ago, as tectonic collision uplifted the Himalayas. Monsoon rains swell its waters from June to September, churning sediment rich in mica and limestone that paints banks silver under midday sun. Trekkers on the Annapurna Circuit cross high passes before descending into semi-arid river valleys, where terraced fields yield buckwheat and maize for local Gurung and Thakali communities.

Beneath towering cliffs, germinating wattle and poplar trees cling to fissures, while snowcock and bearded vultures wheel above. Hot springs at Tatopani (“hot water”) have sheltered weary caravaners for millennia, their mineral-rich pools said to cure rheumatism.

Local lore holds that the gorge’s depth mirrors the chasm between heaven and earth: legends speak of yogis meditating between peaks, achieving enlightenment in caves echoing the river’s roar. British surveyor Brigadier Younghusband in 1902 mapped its initial reaches, praising both gorge’s grandeur and the hospitality of riverside lodges.

Despite trekking tourism, the region’s remoteness has preserved glacial-polished cliffs dotted with rare Himalayan lilies and blue poppies. Whitewater rafting groups navigate Class III–IV rapids, launching from the town of Pokhara and ending near Beni. Conservation efforts focus on sustainable tourism, preventing deforestation that would trigger landslides in monsoon season.

The Kali Gandaki Gorge remains a witness to nature’s vertical artistry—where two of Earth’s highest peaks flank a river that tirelessly chisels the world’s most profound canyon.

#3: Colca Canyon, Peru (Length: 62 mi; Max Depth: 10,725 ft)

Carved over centuries by the Colca River, Peru’s Colca Canyon plunges up to 10,725 feet from the Andean rim down to river level, making it one of the deepest on Earth. Spanning 62 miles near the city of Arequipa, the canyon’s arid walls reveal stratified volcanic layers, confirmation to the region’s fiery geologic past peppered by eruptions from the nearby Misti and Ampato volcanoes.

The Colca Valley has been terraced by human hands for over two millennia. Pre-Inca Collagua and Cabana cultures sculpted farmland on steep slopes, constructing intricate irrigation channels that still channel glacial melt into highland alpaca pastures. Hikers tracing the canyon’s rim walk paths flanked by ancient stone walls, passing Inca-era shrines where llamas were once sacrificed.

Andean condors—the world’s largest flying birds—soar on hairpin turns near the Cruz del Cóndor lookout, riding warm updrafts to glide past sheer walls. Birders gather at dawn to spot these majestic scavengers in a tableau that feels timeless. At river level, hot springs at Sangalle “Oasis” offer soothing pools amid palm groves where Spanish chroniclers in the 16th century first documented the canyon’s vastness.

Hidden gems include pre-Columbian hanging tombs—vertical necropolises carved into cliffs—where carved wooden sarcophagi contain mummified ancestors still adorned in vibrant textiles. Local guides lead cultural tours to villages like Yanque and Maca, whose whitewashed colonial churches date back to the 17th century.

Adventure seekers descend via switchback trails to multi-day base camps, encountering Andean foxes, vizcachas (rock rabbits), and rare hummingbirds subsisting on cactus blooms. River rafters tackle Class II rapids through the bottommost stretches, marveling at towering basalt columns and palm-fringed banks.

While tourism bolsters local economies, concerns over erosion spur reforestation projects planting native queñua trees. Archaeologists continue excavations at nearby archaeological sites, revealing new insights into pre-Inca societies that thrived in this high-altitude crucible.

Colca Canyon’s blend of dramatic depth, living heritage, and natural spectacle cements its place among the world’s most extraordinary gorges.

#4: Cotahuasi Canyon, Peru (Length: 60 mi; Max Depth: 11,447 ft)

Often overshadowed by its neighbor Colca, Cotahuasi Canyon in southern Peru offers an even greater vertical relief—up to 11,447 feet—across a 60-mile expanse carved by the Cotahuasi River. Recognized by National Geographic as one of the world’s deepest, its remote access preserves an aura of mystery rarely found in more touristed gorges.

Geologically, Cotahuasi formed where the Andean orogeny uplifted a massive Paleozoic sedimentary block, leaving behind metamorphic gneisses and schists participants in the canyon walls. Explorers navigating the canyon’s lower reaches have uncovered Inca roads—Qhapaq Ñan segments—zigzagging hundreds of feet above turbulent rapids, once used to transport quinua and coca leaves to highland markets.

Trekking routes descend from altitudes over 15,000 feet through puna grasslands into cloud-forest enclaves bursting with orchids and bromeliads. Local Quechua-speaking communities maintain centuries-old customs, weaving vibrant textiles and tending herds of alpacas and llamas on steep terraces. Festivities like the annual Señor de los Milagros pilgrimage bring villagers up from riverbanks to mountaintop shrines where promises of rain and bountiful harvests are offered.

In the canyon’s core, thermal springs at Sibayo pack a cluster of aguas termales pools fed by hydrothermal vents—geothermal reminders of the region’s volcanic underpinnings. Raft guides report sightings of Andean bears and mountain tapirs along hidden benches above the swift currents, while condors glide overhead against the backdrop of snow-capped Nevado Coropuna.

Archaeological finds, such as ancient burial sites with mummified remains in fetal positions, attest to early pre-Inca mortuary practices. Local oral histories recount a warrior princess said to have leapt from a cliff to escape enemy capture, her figure memorialized in a rock formation atop the canyon’s rim.

Despite its remote location—accessed by a high-altitude dirt road prone to landslides—Cotahuasi Canyon has seen a gradual increase in eco-lodges and guided tours focusing on low-impact adventure. Conservation groups collaborate with locals to monitor water quality and protect fragile cloud-forest enclaves from deforestation tied to agricultural expansion.

With its staggering depth, living traditions, and dramatic biodiversity gradient, Cotahuasi stands as a confirmation to the enduring interplay of geology, ecology, and human resilience in one of Earth’s greatest vertical canyons.

#5: Copper Canyon (Barranca del Cobre), Mexico (Length: 370 mi; Max Depth: 6,200 ft)

Spanning more than 370 miles across the Sierra Madre Occidental in northern Mexico, the Copper Canyon system—consisting of six interconnected gorges—plunges up to 6,200 feet at its deepest point. Named for the greenish hue of its mineral-rich walls rather than the metal itself, this network of canyons dwarfs the U.S. Grand Canyon in total area.

Carved by the rivers Urique, Batopilas, and others, Copper Canyon’s formation traces back 30 million years of uplift and volcanic activity. The Río Urique, the deepest branch, has fashioned dramatic cliffs and waterfalls, including Cascada de Basaseachic—Mexico’s second-highest waterfall at over 800 feet.

The canyon is home to the Tarahumara (Rarámuri) people, famed for their legendary endurance running. They traverse narrow trails—pendant paths suspended hundreds of feet above canyon floors—barefoot or in traditional huarache sandals, racing across peaks and ravines as part of ritual footraces that test strength and spirit.

Copper Canyon is accessible via the Chihuahua al Pacífico Railway (“El Chepe”), a marvel of engineering that crosses 37 bridges and passes through 86 tunnels as it climbs from desert lowlands to highland plateaus. The journey offers window seats into vertiginous drops and panoramic vistas of agave forests and pine-clad summits.

Biodiversity ranges from Joshua trees in lower Sonoran zones to oak and pine at higher elevations. Birders glimpse peregrine falcons nesting on cliff ledges, while black bears forage for acorns and juniper berries. Hidden hot springs at Divisadero provide respite after long hikes, offering natural pools with canyon panoramas rivaling any vista deck.

Anthropologists study ancient cave paintings in Hueco Tanks and cliff dwellings in the Batopilas branch, revealing pre-Columbian habitation. During the 18th century, Spanish silver mines—once rich in ores—scour the sides of Urique, leaving ghost towns that echo with rattlesnake dens and rotting timbers.

Adventure tourism thrives: whitewater rafters tackle Class III–IV rapids on the Urique River, while rock climbers scale multi-pitch limestone walls. Sustainable tourism initiatives partner with Tarahumara communities to develop homestays and cultural exchanges, ensuring economic benefits flow to local families.

Copper Canyon’s sheer size, cultural heritage, and biodiversity weave a tapestry of natural grandeur and human perseverance, making it one of the Western Hemisphere’s most breathtaking—and deepest—canyon systems.

#6: Tiger Leaping Gorge, China (Length: 15 mi; Max Depth: 6,000 ft)

Carved by the Yangtze River’s upper reaches between the towering Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (18,360 ft) and Haba Snow Mountain (17,434 ft) in Yunnan Province, Tiger Leaping Gorge plummets up to 6,000 feet over a mere 15-mile stretch—one of the world’s most precipitous river gorges.

Legend holds that a hunted tiger once leapt across the narrowest part of the gorge—approximately 25 feet—to escape hunters, giving the canyon its evocative name. Today, hiking trails trace this path, with signage marking the “Tiger Leaping Stone” embedded in the river’s rapids.

Beyond myth, Tiger Leaping Gorge formed as tectonic uplift accelerated river downcutting, exposing metamorphic bedrock grooved by millennia of sediment-laden flows. During monsoon season, the Jinsha River swells to flood stage, forcing raft operators to suspend trips while trekkers brave slippery paths carved into sheer cliffs.

Ethnic Naxi and Tibetan villages dot the trail—Qiaotou, Walnut Garden, and Tina’s—where home stays offer yak-butter tea and barley cakes. The Ancient Tea Horse Caravan Trail passes here, once linking Yunnan’s tea merchants with Tibet, mule trains laden with compressed Pu’er tea descending perilous switchbacks.

Eco-surveys document rare species like the black snub-nosed monkey and peregrine falcon that hunt above whitewater. Geologists study terrace cutoffs revealing past river levels, while climate scientists use moss growth rings on canyon walls to reconstruct precipitation patterns.

In 2019, a rare cultural rediscovery uncovered a 17th-century Naxi pictographic manuscript in a hidden cave shrine, inscribed with early Dongba symbols—a treasure for linguists studying one of the world’s last pictographic writing systems.

Tourism management focuses on limiting hiker numbers—often capped daily—to prevent trail erosion and protect fragile alpine meadows. Local cooperatives train guides in first aid, cultural interpretation, and environmental stewardship.

Tiger Leaping Gorge’s fusion of legend, alpine drama, and human history exemplifies how even a canyon of “only” 6,000 feet depth can carve an indelible mark on culture and nature alike.

#7: Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA (Length: 277 mi; Max Depth: 6,093 ft)

Carved over six million years by the Colorado River, the Grand Canyon in northern Arizona stretches 277 miles and plunges to a maximum depth of 6,093 feet. Exposing nearly two billion years of geological history, its layered walls reveal from Proterozoic Vishnu Schist at the river level to Permian sedimentary rocks at the rim.

Native American tribes—Hopi, Navajo, Havasupai and others—have called the canyon home for millennia, leaving petroglyphs in side alcoves and maintaining traditions of prayer and pilgrimage. Havasupai people still tend turquoise waterfalls in side canyons like Havasu Creek, whose travertine pools contrast brilliantly with red sandstone cliffs.

Spanish explorers in the 1540s first glimpsed the canyon’s rim, dubbing its turbulent river Río Colorado. John Wesley Powell’s 1869 expedition navigated the river’s rapids in wooden boats, mapping its course and popularizing its grandeur through lectures and maps. Today, Powell’s name graces the lake behind Glen Canyon Dam upstream.

Rafting the Colorado remains a rite of passage: multi-week trips drift through narrows, under cottonwood-lined beaches, and past formations like Horseshoe Bend and Unkar Delta. Hikers brave the steep Bright Angel Trail to reach Phantom Ranch, a historic mule-operated lodge at river level, where mule droppings once doubled as currency among early travelers.

Conservation efforts balance tourism—over five million annual visitors—with preservation, enforcing permit systems for backpackers and river-running that limit group sizes. Paleontologists occasionally uncover fossilized footprints of early amphibians embedded in limestone ledges.

Sunrise and sunset at Hopi Point and Desert View watchtowers illuminate canyon walls in shifting palettes of ochre, lavender, and rose. As the Colorado continues to shape its course, dam operations and climate change have altered sediment loads and spring floods, prompting adaptive river management to sustain habitats for endangered native fish.

The Grand Canyon endures as the most iconic chasm on Earth—a monument to deep time, human exploration, and the relentless artistry of water on stone.

#8: Blue Nile Gorge, Ethiopia (Length: 60 mi; Max Depth: 2,625 ft)

Known as the “Grand Canyon of Africa,” the Blue Nile Gorge cuts through Ethiopia’s highlands for about 60 miles, reaching depths of roughly 2,625 feet near the town of Gohatsion. As the Blue Nile River departs Lake Tana, it carves terraces that reveal Jurassic limestone and Cenozoic basalts, marking a dramatic transition from plateau to rift valley.

The crossing point at the Gonder–Bahirdar road features a narrow steel bridge spanning the chasm, offering vertiginous views of braided channels and seasonal waterfalls. In the rainy season, cataracts thunder over travertine shelves, draping canyon walls in emerald curtains.

Agricultural terraces cling to slopes, shaped by the Agew and Amhara peoples over centuries. Terraced cultivation prevents erosion while producing barley and millet—a practice UNESCO has recognized as an intangible cultural heritage. Pilgrims ascend to cliff-edge monasteries like Debre Maryam, founded in the 17th century, whose frescoed walls echo with centuries of liturgy.

Hydrologists study the gorge’s sediment flux, essential for downstream dams like the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, whose reservoir will back up the river and flood parts of the lower gorge. Archaeologists prospect riverbank sites for stone tools dating to the Middle Stone Age, seeking insights into early human migrations out of Africa.

Rugged trails descend into secluded coves where rock hyraxes glance warily at passing hikers, and Beja nomads camp with goats and camels. Conservation initiatives aim to protect remnant Afro-alpine forests of giant Lobelia and Erica that shelter endemic birds like the thick-billed raven.

While less renowned than its American counterpart, the Blue Nile Gorge stands as a confirmation to the interplay of hydrology, human ingenuity, and spiritual devotion etched into one of Africa’s most striking landscapes.

#9: Waimea Canyon, Kauai, Hawaii, USA (Length: 14 mi; Max Depth: 3,600 ft)

Often called the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific,” Waimea Canyon slices 14 miles across Kauai’s west side and plunges to depths of about 3,600 feet. Erosion by the Waimea River and millions of years of volcanic activity sculpted its red and ochre walls, streaked with green from dense tropical foliage.

The canyon formed when rainfall on Mount Waialeale—one of the wettest spots on Earth—fed rivers that cut through ancient lava flows. Layered basalt columns and soft ash deposits create a palette of colors that shift with sunlight and shadow.

Native Hawaiian legends speak of Waimea as the home of Pele, goddess of volcanoes, whose fiery temper built Kauai’s volcanic backbone. Petroglyphs near Polihale Beach depict canoe voyages and star navigation, hinting at migrations across the Pacific.

Scenic overlooks along Highway 550 reveal panoramic vistas of the Na Pali Coast towering beyond the canyon’s western terminus. Guided rim hikes traverse ridges where koa and ohia forests support native songbirds like the ‘i‘iwi honeycreeper, while rare nene geese nest on protected ledges.

Rafting and tubing excursions descend the Waimea River through lower canyon reaches, passing red cliffs and waterfalls like Waipo‘o Falls, which plunges 800 feet in two tiers. Photographers capture rainbows arcing through spray at canyon lip viewpoints like Puu Hinahina.

Restoration projects focus on eradicating invasive feral pigs and goats that threaten native plants, while volunteer groups replant sandalwood and hau trees. Cultural programs revive ancient hula dances and mele (chants) honoring the canyon’s creation myths.

Waimea Canyon’s fusion of volcanic history, tropical biodiversity, and Hawaiian heritage cements its reputation as one of the Pacific’s most dramatic—and deepest—chasms.

#10: Fish River Canyon, Namibia (Length: 93 mi; Max Depth: 1,804 ft)

Etched by the Fish River over 500 million years, Namibia’s Fish River Canyon stretches 93 miles through the arid south and plunges to depths of about 1,804 feet. As Africa’s largest canyon, it reveals Precambrian schists and Ordovician sandstones sculpted by episodic flows in an otherwise desert environment.

The canyon’s formation began when tectonic uplift created fault lines that directed river courses, which over geologic time incised deep gorges. In summer, the riverbed lies dry, cracked, and powdery, offering hiking trails through corrugated walls. From May to September, guided treks lead adventurers along the rim and down into the canyon floor, camping beside thermal springs where occasional pools hold carp and tilapia.

San rock art sites on plateau overlooks display engravings of eland and giraffe, suggesting prehistoric hunters viewed the canyon as a sacred hunting ground. German colonial settlers in the early 20th century attempted ranching on canyon rims—evidence of their homesteads still visible in rusted corrals and stone ruins.

Birdlife includes fish eagles and Egyptian vultures that nest on cliff ledges, while mountain zebra and klipspringer goats pick at hardy shrubs on canyon benches. Astrophotographers capture the Milky Way arcing over the canyon’s silhouette—a sky unspoiled by light pollution.

Conservation efforts led by the Namibian government and local communities focus on sustainable tourism, limiting hikers to permits and guiding services. Research into paleoenvironmental records from sediment deposits seeks to trace climate swings that turned the region from wetter savanna to current hyper-arid desert.

The Fish River Canyon stands as a monument to deep time and survival in extremes—a carved witness to water’s persistence in one of Earth’s most forbidding landscapes.

From the vertiginous chasm of Tibet’s Yarlung Tsangpo to the arid grandeur of Namibia’s Fish River, these ten canyons testify to the unyielding power of tectonics and water in sculpting our planet. Each gorge harbors its own tapestry of life, legend, and human endeavor—ancient caravan routes, sacred temples perched on cliffs, and hidden hot springs warmed by volcanic heartbeats. As we descend into these depths, we’re reminded that even the most rugged landscapes sustain ecosystems and cultures alike, enduring through epochs of change. May these stories inspire deeper appreciation—and stewardship—for the world’s grandest canyons, where earth and time converge in spectacular relief.