Photos of Blyde River Canyon in South Africa, World’s Third Largest Canyon

The winding, majestic Blyde River Canyon in South Africa is a sight to behold.

The next time you drink a glass of water, spare a moment to think of the sheer power of the live-giving chemical. Water has shaped and sculpted the land around us, and the deep canyons scattered across the earth a prime example of this. And among them is the Blyde River Canyon, spread across the Mpumalanga region in South Africa and shaped by the Blyde River. Following the winding path of the river, the canyon offers incredible views of the steep vertical walls that extend around 800 meters down into the riverbed. Here’s a look at some photos of the canyon, the third-largest in the world. ALSO READ: Photos of Canberra that Show You Why This is Australia’s Capital

A fragment of the Panorama Route at the Blyde River Canyon, the largest green canyon in the world

Morning sunlights baths the Blyde River Canyon in Mpumulanga

A girl sitting on a rock at Lowveld view in Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve

View from Lowveld Viewpoint to the Blyde River Canyon, with striking rocks of red sandstone

Bridge over the canyon at the Bourke’s Luck potholes in the Blyde river

A closer look at Bourke’s Luck Potholes in Mpumalanga, South Africa

The Three Rondavels on the Panorama Route give a spectacular view over the Blyde River Canyon

Evening view of The Three Rondavels and Blyde River Canyon

Girl sitting in a rock overlooking a waterfall in a rocky landscape at Blyde River Canyon

Blyde River Canyon panorama from God’s window viewpoint

Berlin Waterfall, a 262 foot cascade in the Mpumalanga region

The Panorama Route seen in a few of the pictures above is the name given to the area over the Klein Drakensberg escarpment, because of the spectacular panoramic views of the mountains that it offers. In fact, a lot of the viewpoints are named to describe the spectacle that they offer, like Wonder View and God’s View. NOW READ: Photos of Binsar, a Quiet Haven in the Kumaon Himalayas

The Three Rondavels or Three Sisters are massive dolomite rock spirals that rise from the far wall of the canyon, with fiery orange sides and green domed heads. From here, you can view the Swadini Dam far off into the distance, a point that marks the end of the Mpumalanga reserve. If you plan on visiting South Africa, this canyon should definitely be on your list.