Which landform is a deep valley with steep sides often with a river running through it?

• A. Valley
• B. Beach
• C. Canyon
• D. Plateau

Answer: (C)

A canyon is a deep valley with steep sides, often with a river running through it. Rivers carve down into rock over long periods, creating very high, sheer walls and leaving a narrow, water-filled floor where the river flows. That strong combination—deep, narrow valley walls and a river at the bottom—is what makes this landform stand out.

Valleys are typically broader and gentler in slope, not the steep-walled shape described here. A beach is a sandy shoreline along water, not a deep valley. A plateau is high land with a flat top and steep sides around the edges, not a deep valley with a river through it. So the best match for the description is canyon.