Well, that depends on your point of view (or that of the person you ask). The opinion of most evolutionists is that it was caused by water erosion of the Colorado River (the one that runs through the canyon) over probably millions of years. Also, that the rock layers were formed over millions of years. Creationists, however, generally believe it was caused by the biblical flood of Noah. They believe the rock layers formed very quickly from the weight and force of all of the water. And that the canyon formed when the waters rapidly receded, cutting the canyon through the rock layers due to the extreme force of all the fast-moving water.
erosion
They shape the earth into the natural wonders you see today like the Grand Canyon
The primary agent of erosion responsible for the formation of the Grand Canyon is the Colorado River. Over millions of years, the river has carved and deepened the canyon through its powerful force of water flow, which continues to shape the landscape today. Additionally, weathering processes such as frost wedging and chemical weathering have also played a role in the formation of the Grand Canyon.
The flat tops of the Grand Canyon were formed through millions of years of erosion by water and ice. The Colorado River and its tributaries gradually carved through the rock layers, creating the wide, flat plateau at the top of the canyon. The process of erosion continues to shape the canyon's landscape today.
If I'm not mistaken, lava didn't really shape the grand canyon, the Colarado River did. It slowly eroded the rock until it is the massive canyon we know today.
the shape and size of it
After weathering has broken some of the pieces of of a rock or a object erosions part comes in. Erosion carries the pieces to another place and the pieces start to form another object leaving the other object with a cool shape such the grand canyon.
The formation of the Meteor Crater played a role in the geological history and landscape evolution of the Grand Canyon by demonstrating the impact of meteorites on the Earth's surface. This impact event helped shape the landscape of the region and influenced the formation of the Grand Canyon over millions of years through erosion and other geological processes.
The grand canyon was formed when excessive and massive overflow of water washed off soft and loosen sandstone and dirt leaving hard ground intacted. As water continue down stream, soft sandstone and dirt get washed off and this created deeper channel as water decreases. At the same time water waves created and separated strata layers by bouncing and washing off loosen dirt between layers, making horizontal lines all the way from the top to the bottom. These horizontal lines prove that water did flood the area creating a massive canyon. A small river would not be able to create a several miles wide canyon. The fact that the top and bottom strata layers look identical in age suggests that the canyon may have been created at the same or not too distant set of times.
The Palo Duro canyon was formed from water erosion from the prairie dog town branch of the Red River. Wind and water erosion deepened and widened the canyon to the shape we see today.
a river
Echo Canyon was formed by erosion from the waters of Leidy Creek, which cut through the sandstone rock over millions of years to create the unique canyon shape. The canyon is known for its excellent acoustics, which amplify sound and create echo effects, hence the name "Echo Canyon."