Canyon Diablo (canyon) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Canyon Diablo
View of Canyon Diablo, Interstate 40, and Two Guns (ghost town)
Geography

An old railway bridge crossing Canyon Diablo, built around 1883.

'Canyon Diablo is a deep canyon located in Northern Arizona. Its name in the Navajo language is Kin Łigaaí. Part of this canyon is found within the lands of the Navajo Nation.

Discovering Canyon Diablo

Canyon Diablo got its name from a U.S. Army officer named Lieutenant Amiel Weeks Whipple. In 1853, Whipple was part of a team exploring the area. While riding west near a place called Winslow, he came across this very steep canyon. He decided to name it "Canyon Diablo," which means "Devil Canyon" in Spanish. This name is a Spanish translation of what Native Americans called the canyon.

Canyon Diablo and Meteor Crater

This canyon is located about 3 miles (4.8 km) west of the famous Meteor Crater. A small community, also called Canyon Diablo, Arizona, used to be the closest town to the crater. Because of this, the space rock that created the crater is officially known as the Canyon Diablo meteorite. Scientists studied this meteorite to learn more about space and Earth's history.

Famous Bridges of Canyon Diablo

Canyon Diablo is known for its important bridges.

Historic Route 66 Bridge

One famous bridge is the Canyon Diablo Bridge. This bridge was once part of U.S. Route 66, a historic highway that crossed the United States. Today, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important historical landmark. It is located just south of the modern I-40 highway bridges.

BNSF Railway Bridge

Another well-known bridge is the BNSF Canyon Diablo railroad bridge. This bridge is a popular spot for railfans, who are people who enjoy watching and photographing trains.