The incredible 1,500ft deep gorge that’s Europe’s Grand Canyon

The Vikos Gorge lies in the North Pindus Mountains in the historic area of Epirus.

This almighty gorge is a true wonder of the natural world and has been dubbed the “ Grand Canyon”.

This is due to its almighty cliffs and stunning heights making it a marvel for all those who visit.

The gorge’s depth exceeds 1,500 feet, with a width ranging from 1,312ft to only a very few feet at its narrowest point.

The gorge is also a Guinness World Record holder for being the world’s “deepest relative to its width”.

Vikos Gorge is a cultural treasure in Greece, attracting climbers, hikers and adventurists from all over the globe.

In fact, it’s been described as an outdoor enthusiast’s dream thanks to dramatic cliffs, crystal-clear streams and lush forests that surround it.

Although not as deep as the American Canyon, the Vikos Gorge is just as lovely, boasting of verdant ravines.

There are a number of vertical geological formations found here with an impressive ecosystem including flora and fauna that call this intriguing sanctuary home.

Its history dates back to the Paleolithic era with the gorge being covered by a shallow sea.

During intense geological processes, the Vikos Gorge was eventually formed. 

Specifically, over time, once the shallow sea receded, the Pindus Mountains rose with a rugged landscape of shale and limestone.

The calcareous formations of Vikos formed 37 to 150 million years ago and now cover most of the gorge.

The gorge’s verdant forest contains more than 40 different varieties of trees and shrubs with local health practitioners known as “Vikos doctors,” using it for therapeutic purposes.

“Absolutely magical valley. Clear ice cold water in the baking heat,” said one review on TripAdvisor. It added: “Great place to visit and several hours of fun times swimming and jumping into pools”.

Another read: “Just incredible, was a perfect day and will return another year to do more”.