Open Canyon

Open Canyon

Open Canyon is located in Grand Teton National Park, in the U. S. state of Wyoming. The canyon was formed by glaciers which retreated at the end of the Last Glacial Maximum approximately 15,000 years ago, leaving behind a U-shaped valley. Open Canyon is situated between Mount Hunt, Prospectors Mountain and Coyote Lake which are at the head of the canyon. The canyon is accessed by way of the Open Canyon Trail.

Canyon

A canyon, gorge or chasm, is a deep cleft between escarpments or cliffs resulting from weathering and the erosive activity of a river over geologic time scales. Rivers have a natural tendency to cut through underlying surfaces, eventually wearing away rock layers as sediments are removed downstream. A river bed will gradually reach a baseline elevation, which is the same elevation as the body of water into which the river drains. The processes of weathering and erosion will form canyons when the river's headwaters and estuary are at significantly different elevations, particularly through regions where softer rock layers are intermingled with harder layers more resistant to weathering.

open

Adjective

1. Physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc.

Verb

1. To make or become physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc.

canyon

Noun

1. A valley, especially a long, narrow, steep valley, cut in rock by a river.

Verb

1. Of water, liquid, or another substance, to flow in or into a canyon.