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Grand Canyon, USA -

The largest and arguably the most recognized canyon in the world, the Grand Canyon is carved by the Colorado River in Arizona. It's pictured here from Desert View Point.

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Indus Gorge, India -

The Indus River passes through this gigantic gorge, which is 4,500–5,200 m- (15,000–17,000 ft) deep—the deepest canyon in the world! It's located near the Nanga Parbat massif.

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Vikos Gorge, Greece -

Guinness World Records has listed this gorge in northern Greece as the deepest in the world in proportion to its width. For a true sense of its spectacular dimensions, head for the natural viewing platform over the deepest part of the gorge at Oxia.

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Blyde River Canyon, South Africa -

At 26 km- (16 mi) long, Blyde River Canyon in South Africa is one of the largest canyons on Earth. Located in Mpumalanga, it's known as a "green canyon" due to the abundance of subtropical vegetation.

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Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon, Iceland -

Iceland's majestic Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon is one of the country's most iconic natural wonders. It's located near the village of Kirkjubæjarklaustur, in the south east.

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Verdon Gorge, France -

This scenic river canyon located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southeastern France is one of Europe's premier rock climbing destinations. The turquoise-green Verdon River, meanwhile, is a favorite with watersports enthusiasts.

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Colca Canyon, Peru -

Located on the Colca River in southern Peru, Colca Canyon, with a depth of 3,270 m (10,730 ft), is one of the deepest in the world.

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Fish River Canyon, Namibia -

The largest canyon in Africa, this mighty ravine stretches 160 km (100 mi) and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country. The Fish River Canyon hiking trail is especially appealing.

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Itaimbezinho Canyon, Brazil -

Brazil's spectacular Itaimbezinho Canyon cuts a wedge between the states of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina, about 170 km (105 mi) from Porto Alegre. It's part of the Aparados da Serra National Park.

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Ordesa Canyon, Spain -

Unique in Europe, Ordesa Canyon inspires with its Dantesque walls, vertiginous cliffs, and sparkling waterfalls. Located in Aragon, in the Spanish Pyrenees, the Ordesa Valley offers one the world's most exhilarating hiking experiences.

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Cheddar Gorge, England -

Set in the Mendip Hills in Somerset and named for the nearby village of Cheddar, the gorge is the site of the Cheddar show caves, where Britain's oldest complete human skeleton, Cheddar Man, estimated to be 9,000 years old, was unearthed in 1903.

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Kings Canyon, Australia -

At sunset the walls of Kings Canyon in the Northern Territory of Australia appear burnished with gold. Part of the gorge is a sacred Aboriginal site, and visitors are discouraged from straying from the designated hiking trail.

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Taroko Gorge, Taiwan -

This impressive 19-km-long (11 mi) canyon, situated near Taiwan's east coast, is the country's top scenic attraction. The cut-out gorge is found in Taroko National Park.

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Tiger Leaping Gorge, China -

The vast Tiger Leaping Gorge is set on the Jinsha River, 60 km (37 mi) north of Lijiang City, in Yunnan. Legend says the name comes from a hunted tiger that escaped its pursuers by jumping across the river at the narrowest point.

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Partnach Gorge, Germany -

This picturesque gorge near the south German town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen has been incised over centuries by a fast-flowing mountain stream. Accessible to visitors year-round, the gorge is especially appealing in winter when the waterfalls freeze up.

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Todra Gorge, Morocco -

Hidden away in the High Atlas Mountains near the town of Tinerhir are a series of limestone river gorges collectively known as Todra Gorge. Rivers are responsible for carving out these deep cliff-sided canyons, though during the dry season the canyon floor is bereft of water.

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Kali Gandaki Gorge, Nepal -

Kali Gandaki is one of the deepest gorges in the world. The gorge separates the major peaks of Dhaulagiri on the west and Annapurna on the east. The gorge itself has been used as a trade route between India and Tibet for centuries.

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Ihlara Canyon, Turkey -

Ihlara Canyon is a 16 km- (10 mi) long gorge cut into volcanic rock in the southern part of Cappadocia. The canyon is famed for the honeycombed rock-cut underground dwellings and churches from the Byzantine period built by the Cappadocian Greeks.

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Wadi Nakhr, Oman -

Oman's very own Grand Canyon is more austere in appearance than its North American counterpart, but no less impressive. Known as Wadi An Nakhr in the local tongue, it carries on into the Jabal Shams mountain range for about 8 km (5 mi), making it one of the deepest valleys in the Sultanate.

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Waimea Canyon, USA -

Also known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, Waimea Canyon, located on the western side of Kauaʻi in the Hawaiian Islands, is around 16 km- (10 mi) long and 900 m- (3,000 ft) deep. The Waipoo Falls are a landmark feature.

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Samariá Gorge, Greece -

The Samariá Gorge on Crete is a National Park of Greece and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. A must for visitors to the island is to complete the walk down the gorge from the Omalos plateau to Agia Roumeli on the coast.

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Glen Canyon, USA -

Glen Canyon is part of the immense system of canyons carved by the Colorado River and its tributaries, and is mostly set in Utah. The iconic Horseshoe Bend is one of the most dramatic sections of the canyon.

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Wulingyuan, China -

The more than 3,000 quartzite sandstone pillars and peaks that landscape scenic and historic Wulingyuan are gathered within a series of ravines and gorges rather than one singe canyon.

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Canyon de Chelly, USA -

Located in Arizona within the boundaries of the Navajo Nation, Canyon de Chelly is known for Spider Rock, a magnificent sandstone spire that rises 229 m (750 ft) from the canyon floor. The whole region is part of the Canyon de Chelly National Monument.

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Antelope Canyon, USA -

A postcard favorite, Antelope Canyon lies on Navajo land near Page, Arizona. Known scientifically as a slot canyon—a long, narrow, and deep sandstone channel—Antelope's amazing rock formations and spiral arches can only be visited as part of a guided tour.

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Bryce Canyon, USA -

Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah is named for Bryce Canyon, which despite its title is not a canyon, but a collection of giant natural amphitheaters along the eastern side of the Paunsaugunt Plateau. The tall, thin, red and orange spires of rock that blanket the region are known as  hoodoos, formed by thousands of years of erosion.

Sources: (International Rafting)

See also: Picture-perfect valley views to amuse you today

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