My continent features a large canyon, perhaps 100 miles long and mile across. It is deep enough that descending to the bottom is dangerous and impractical. It is located primarily in an arid scrubland but also passes through a mountainous region at one end. The cause is supernatural, so there is no riverbed or other erosion in play (at least not initially). Otherwise, the world is fairly Earth-like. The emphasis here is on the length and relative impassibility. I am interested in how a pre-industrial society could overcome or adapt to such a barrier.
The above assumes the canyon is an ancient feature. What if it wasn't? What if some cataclysm created this chasm and disrupted a human society? Could a society easily adapt to such a drastic change or would all communications be severed between either side.
It is deep enough that descending to the bottom is dangerous and impractical.
which is kind of like the grand canyon I guess. Maybe the better question is what needs to be different to make it unlike the grand canyon. $\endgroup$ – AndyD273 Dec 21 '15 at 22:48