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The Sculpting Power of Water
Water has eroded and weathered the sedimentary rock of this region for millions of years. As water seeps into the rocks, it dissolves the cementing minerals that bind the sand grains, allowing them to be carried away.
The sand grains then enter the flow of the Colorado River and turn the water into an abrasive solution like liquid sandpaper. The fast current of the gritty river carves through the rock, deepening the canyon. Today, the river is 2,000 feet below this vantage point. |