Scientists Accidentally Discover Even Grander Canyon

In Greenland, but no one's ever seen it
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 30, 2013 3:35 AM CDT
Updated Aug 30, 2013 7:58 AM CDT
Even Grander Canyon Below Greenland's Ice
In this July 21, 2011 file photo, an iceberg floats in the sea near Qeqertarsuaq, Disko Island, Greenland.   (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley, File)

Scientists have—totally by accident—come across a hidden canyon that dwarfs the Grand one, the BBC reports. The researchers were using radar to map out Greenland's bedrock when they stumbled upon the 2,625-foot deep feature, which, at 500 miles, is longer than the Grand Canyon's 277 miles, Design & Trend notes. It's full of ice now—the stuff is up to two miles thick—but a river forged the canyon some four million years ago, predating the ice.

Now, a little meltwater drains out of the northern end of the unseen canyon, which runs from central Greenland to its north coast. "With satellite images instantly available on a mobile phone we could assume that the Earth has been fully mapped, but there's clearly a lot left to discover," says a scientist. The canyon could also be bad news: Water moving under Greenland's ice could contribute to faster melting, the Christian Science Monitor notes. So are there more of these in the world? The lead researcher tells National Geographic he's now wondering what lies under the Antarctic Ice Sheet—which is 10 times the size of Greenland's. (More Greenland stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X