erosion occurs naturally at a very slow rate but human activities have sped up the process by an estimated ten to forty times globally.
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Water makes up nearly three-quarters of the Earth's surface, but it does more than just cover our
planet - it also plays a vital role in shaping it.
Consider the Grand Canyon. Measuring 277 miles long, 18 miles wide and more than 1 mile deep, it
is considered one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and attracts more than 5 million visitors
per year. This geological marvel was created by the waters of the Colorado River through the
processes of weathering and erosion. Weathering is the process by which moving water breaks down
soil, rock and minerals, and erosion is the process by which the flowing water transports soil and rock
from one spot and deposits it elsewhere. The two processes often occur in conjunction.
Weathering and erosion are very slow processes. Geologists believe the Colorado River has been
flowing through the Grand Canyon for at least 17 million years, and it has been gradually shaping the
canyon this entire time. The flowing water of the river and its tributaries has carved away at the rock
of the Colorado Plateau, creating the sight we are familiar with today.
Caves and caverns are another example of weathering and erosion. Limestone caves, such as the
Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico, are formed when rainwater mixes with carbon dioxide in the
ground and wears away at the limestone. Sea caves, which can be found along coastlines, are
formed when powerful waves crash against the shore and break away chunks of rock. Ice caves are
formed when glaciers melt, and the ice melt flows across the ground as a stream.
You don't have to travel very far to see the effects of weathering and erosion for yourself, though. If
you've ever been to the beach, you've already seen evidence of how powerful of a force moving
water can be-and all you had to do was look down