User:Ayon Mukherji/sandbox

THE AMAZING LANDFORMS DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A VALLEY AND A CANYON. It is very hard to differentiate between a valley and a canyon. In this article I will try to highlight the features of a valley and a canyon and will also try to make clear to the reader their differences. WHAT IS A CANYON? Canyons are like valleys but are generally deeper when measured from the top of the plateau. They can run for long distances. Most canyons were formed by a process of long-time erosion by flowing water, from a plateau level (which usually takes many million years). Usually long rivers flow through the canyons. They are found between two large cliffs and the cliff walls just have enough dirt or soil to have minimal plant cover. Cacti also grow on some dry canyons. The majestic Grand Canyon in Arizona is 6000 feet deep and is 277 miles long. Weather changes over time often impact the physical features of a canyon. Sometimes rains falling into a canyon change into snow. The snow and water makes the river flow faster and the canyon deeper. When it gets really cold water freezes and expands making the bottom of the canyon wider. In this way the shape of a canyon is changing continuously due to varying weather conditions. Canyons provide us with unusually stunning scenery and natural heritage. They remind us of the great power and beauty of Mother Nature. EXAMPLES OF SOME GREAT CANYONS Grand Canyon (Arizona, USA). Probably the most popular canyon Havasu Canyon, it’s just paradise on earth (Arizona, USA) Tara river canyon (Montenegro, Europe)

VALLEYS (“V” SHAPED VALLEY)                                     (“U” SHAPED VALLEY) A valley is basically a depression of the earth bounded by hills or mountains; it slopes down to a stream, lake or ocean. At the bottom of most valleys there is very fertile soil. Most valleys are cut by rivers and streams. Erosion carves steep walled sides and a narrow floor that looks kind of like a “V” or “U” from afar (as visible in the picture). Some valleys found in mountainous regions are formed by glaciers instead of rivers or streams. There are also cases in which a valley carved by water (“V” shape) are then carved into a hollowed “U” shape due to the massive amounts of snow. When the Ice melts a “U” shaped Valley is left behind. One of the most famous valleys is the stunning valley of Kashmir (India). It is found between Karakoram and the Pir Panjal Range in the Indian state of Jammu, it opens out to the Dal Lake. It is approximately 135km long and 32m wide and the Jhelum river flows through it.

EXAMPLES OF SOME VALLEYS •	Great rift valley (Ethiopia, Tanzania, Malawi, Kenya) DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A VALLEY AND A CANYON A canyon or gorge is a deep valley often carved from the Earth by a river. Most canyons originate by a process of long-time erosion from a plateau level, with a stream gradually carving out its valley.

A valley on the other hand is a landform, which can range from a few square miles to hundreds or even thousands of square miles in area. It is typically a low-lying area of land, surrounded by higher areas such as mountains. Detailed points:- The low lying areas between the cliffs in a canyon are narrower than the ones found in the valleys. Canyons have steep, cliff like walls while valleys gently sloping sides.