Gorge cut by the Colorado River , northwestern Arizona, U.S. Noted for its rock formations and coloration, it is about 0.
118 mi (0.229 km) wide and extends from northern Arizona to Grand Wash Cliffs, near the Nevada border, a distance of about 277 mi (446 km). The deepest section, 56 mi (90 km) long, is within Grand Canyon National Park, which covers the river's length from Lake Powell to Lake Mead . The surrounding plateau is 5,0009,000 ft (1,5002,750 m) above sea level, and the canyon is in places more than a mile (1.8 km) deep. The national park, now containing 1,904 sq mi (4,931 sq km), was created in 1919. The former Grand Canyon National Monument, established in 1932, was added, with other lands, in 1975. In 1979 the Grand Canyon was designated a World Heritage site .