According to a recent study by researchers from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, parts of the Grand Canyon might only be 5 to 6 million years old, rather than the 70 million years that another theory claims that it took to form.

The Grand Canyon, located along part of the Colorado River, is known as one of the seven natural wonders of the world including Mount Everest and the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

According to a recent study by researchers from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, parts of the Grand Canyon might only be 5 to 6 million years old, rather than the 70 million years old that another theory claims it is.

Data from this and other studies has shown that segments of the Grand Canyon formed at different times.

Analysis of the rocks was done using a complicated process called thermochronology to determine the temperature of the rocks over time and then extrapolate that information to track changes in the formative conditions of the canyon.

According to the study, the section of the canyon known as the Hurricane is 50 to 70 million years old, and the Eastern Grand Canyon section is 15 to 25 million years old.

Evidence suggests that the two sections at either end of the canyon, called Marble Canyon and the Westernmost Grand Canyon formed around five to six million years ago when the Colorado River connected the various canyons.