Far below is a ribbon of blue; not much to look at, a shallow stream, a dribble; barely enough to float a boat on. Or so it appears from half a kilometer above it. But the Fish River, inconsequential as it looks from the clifftops, has, in its very long lifetime, moved more rock than all Africa's construction companies put together.

And to greater effect.

With a little help from plate tectonics, the Fish River has dug itself the second-largest canyon in the world. At 160 km long, up to 27 km wide and 500 meters deep, the Fish River Canyon in the southwest African nation of Namibia is bested only by the U.S. of A.'s Grand Canyon in the size and grandeur stakes. Funny what a little energy can accomplish.