New research suggests Hells Canyon, the deepest gorge in America, likely formed about 2.1 million years ago. (Photo courtesy of Matthew Morris)
The origins of Hells Canyon, North America's deepest river canyon, have long puzzled researchers. But new research suggests it formed about 2.1 million years ago, when a spectacular flood likely carved a river over a deep gorge.
The scientists came to this conclusion by examining clues hidden in the landscape and river sediments left behind in the caves. They shared their findings in a study published May 19 in the journal PNAS.
Hells Canyon is located on the border of Oregon, Idaho, and Washington. It is formed by the Snake River and is the deepest river canyon in North America, measuring 10 miles (16 kilometers) wide and about 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) deep—almost 2,000 feet deeper than the Grand Canyon.
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