CHASM (χάσμα, G5926) a yawning fissure or deep precipitous cavity in the earth’s surface, such as an abyss, a gorge or a deep canyon. Chasms are particularly common in strongly jointed rocks where solution by ground water (e.g. in limestones) or frost action takes place along sub-vertical master joints. They are also common in much faulted regions, such as in and adjacent to the Jordan Rift Valley. Here successive downward fault movements have lowered the base level of streams draining into the region and deep gorges have been formed, such as the Wadi Hasa which has cut down 1,750 meters.

Bibliography

E. M. Blaiklock (ed.), The Zondervan Pictorial Bible Atlas (1969), 438-452.