What Formed the Grand Canyon?

The story of how Grand Canyon and how it came to be begins with the formation of the layers and layers of rock that the canyon winds through. The story starts about 5 thousand years ago when igneous rocks are created having solidified from lava or magma created by volcanic processes. Volcanic eruptions create metamorphic rocks by creating massive earth movement of magma, silt, water and sediment that disperse at almost supersonic speeds. Very rapidly, layer upon layer of sedimentary rocks were laid on top of these basement rocks.

This is observed in different processes at Mt St. Helens in Washington State and Novarupta in Alaska. The modern observed eruption of Mt St. Helens was well documented by science, photography and tens of thousands of eye witnesses. The massive eruption change the land scape, blew off half the mountain, carved canyons and destroyed trees and landscapes.

Novarupta was 30 times larger than Mt. St. Helens and cause tens of thousands of acres of Alaska landscape to be turned upside down in just a matter of days. Novarupta carved canyons hundreds of feet deep, created water dams that later broke moving what ever was in the way including organics, sediment rocks, boulders. The flow of the flowing water almost hit supersonic speeds easily carving through earth and rock.

Could the grand canyon be carved in a vey short period of time? Yes, the observation of destructive volcanic activities, earthquakes and water rushing is well documented.

Visit the Creation Education Museum to see a model of the Grand Canyon and learn more of the science behind its creation.

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