<P> A canyon may also refer to a rift between two mountain peaks, such as those in ranges including the Rocky Mountains, the Alps, the Himalayas or the Andes . Usually a river or stream and erosion carve out such splits between mountains . Examples of mountain - type canyons are Provo Canyon in Utah or Yosemite Valley in California's Sierra Nevada . Canyons within mountains, or gorges that have an opening on only one side, are called box canyons . Slot canyons are very narrow canyons that often have smooth walls . </P> <P> Steep - sided valleys in the seabed of the continental slope are referred to as submarine canyons . Unlike canyons on land, submarine canyons are thought to be formed by turbidity currents and landslides . </P> <P> The word canyon is Spanish in origin (cañón, pronounced (kaˈɲon)), with the same meaning . The word canyon is generally used in North America while the words gorge and ravine are used in Europe and Oceania, though gorge and ravine are also used in some parts of North America . In the United States, place names generally use canyon in the southwest and gorge in the northeast, with the rest of the country graduating between these two according to geography . In Canada, a gorge is usually narrow while a ravine is more open and often wooded . The military - derived word defile is occasionally used in the United Kingdom . </P> <P> Most canyons were formed by a process of long - time erosion from a plateau or table - land level . The cliffs form because harder rock strata that are resistant to erosion and weathering remain exposed on the valley walls . </P>

Whats the difference between a canyon and a gorge
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