Copper Canyon

Mexico · canyons · geology · rivers

Six canyons in one. Copper Canyon is actually not just one canyon, but a system of six different canyons all connected in the Sierra Madre Occidental mountains in northwestern Mexico. Together, they cover an area bigger than many countries.

Rivers carved it all. Six rivers flowing down the mountains carved out these amazing canyons over millions of years. All six rivers eventually join together into the Rio Fuerte and flow all the way to the Gulf of California.

Green and copper colored. The canyons got their name from the stunning copper and green colors you see in the rock walls. Minerals in the rocks create this beautiful, shimmering appearance.

Incredibly huge. Copper Canyon covers about 65,000 square kilometers (that's roughly 25,000 square miles). It's so vast that it rivals some of the world's most famous canyons in sheer size.