chasm

A chasm is a deep fissure or opening in the Earth's surface, typically in rock, with steep or vertical walls. Chasms can vary from narrow cracks to broad, cliff-edged gaps and may occur in deserts, mountains, cliffs, or along fault lines. They often expose deeper rock layers and can be dry or contain water, streams, or pools.

In geology, chasms form through several processes. Tectonic activity can pull crust apart, creating cracks that become wider over time. Erosion by water, ice, and wind can propagate and enlarge joints in rock, producing deep fissures. In karst landscapes, dissolution of soluble rocks can widen fractures into large chasms. Some chasms result from the collapse of caves or overlying rock.

The term is related to fissure, crevasse, and gorge, but chasm generally conveys a more abrupt or yawning opening than a crack and may be narrower than a canyon but significantly deeper. Etymologically, chasm derives from Latin chasma, via Greek khasma, meaning “yawning gap.” The word entered English in the late Middle Ages, with a figurative sense of a large difference or division becoming common in modern usage.

Common features of chasms include rugged rock walls, variable illumination, and potential hazards for climbers or hikers due to unstable footing and falling rock. Chasms are of interest in geology for their ability to reveal structural and stratigraphic information and in geography as notable landscape features. In literature, the term can symbolize a profound separation between places, people, or ideas.