LexBrew
Usage Entry 1217 / 1350 60-second read

Valley vs. Canyon

A low area between hills versus a deep, steep-sided gorge.

The comparisoni

✗ Wrong

The Grand Valley is the defining landform of Arizona.

✓ Correct

The Grand Canyon is the defining landform of Arizona — canyons have steep walls. Valleys have gentler slopes.

The ruleii

VALLEY = gentle. CANYON = steep.

VALLEY is a low area between hills or mountains, typically formed by rivers or glaciers — often wide with gentle slopes. CANYON is a deep, narrow valley with steep rock walls, usually carved by rivers through hard rock. All canyons are valleys; most valleys are not canyons.

Memory aidiii

Remember it like this

Valley slopes. Canyon drops.

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