Grand Canyon, Arizona Target Name:   Earth Spacecraft:   Space Shuttle Produced by:   NASA Copyright:  NASA Copyright Free Policy Cross Reference:   STS060-083-005 Date Released:  10 February 1994

• Earth Introduction

The Grand Canyon, one of the deepest canyons in the world with a depth of 1 mile (1.6 kilometers), can be seen in this spectacular, west-looking, low-oblique photograph. The Colorado River cut through rocks billions of years old to create this canyon. The Grand Canyon is 277 miles (466 kilometers) long and averages nearly 10 miles (16 kilometers) in width. The snow-covered, forested Kaibab Plateau (north of the canyon) and the Coconino Plateau (south of the canyon) are visible. The western portions of the Painted Desert can be seen east of the canyon where the Little Colorado River joins the Colorado River.