Grand Canyon is a marvel on the landscape of North America, a breathtaking geological feature in the southwestern U.S. state of Arizona presenting dramatic contours and richly colored vistas. In 1869, Major John Wesley Powell explored the length of the Green and Colorado Rivers and came across the iconic waterbody during the course of his journey. Subsequently, he christened the name "Grand Canyon" and popularized it. In 2026, a new research is providing insight into how and when Colorado River, whose continuous might has carved out the canyon over millions of years, came to flow through the region.
By studying tiny grains of the mineral zircon in sandstone made up of sediments carried by Colorado river and particles of ash from volcanic eruptions long ago, the researchers managed to trace paths that the river took in the past.
