How deep is the Grand Canyon?

The Grand Canyon averages a depth of about 4,000 feet for its 277-mile length. At its deepest point, it is 6,000 feet deep. At its widest point, it is 18 miles across.

The Grand Canyon is so deep that it exposes rock layers, or strata, from the Protozoic and Paleozoic Eras. In fact, the Grand Canyon is deep enough that much of the early geologic history of the continent is recorded in its rock layers. However, it is not the deepest canyon in the entire world. The Grand Canyon's depth is due in part to the Colorado Plateau being uneven, which forces all the runoff from the surrounding mountains into the canyon.