Slowly the area became what visitors see today -- a dry land of high flat mesa tops and deep canyons formed through thousands of years by flowing rivers.

VOA: special.2010.07.05

The Environment Agency said Thursday's rain had left rivers "reasonably high".

BBC: West Midlands: Weather damage clear up begins

"This rain will be falling on saturated ground, the rivers are already very high and any further rain will exacerbate the problem, " he said.

BBC: Wales weather: Flood risk as more rain moves in

Environment Agency Wales said rivers are "unseasonably high" following the recent rainfall and emergency services are on alert as Wales could feel the brunt of the first of the autumn storms.

BBC: Flooding brings chaos to county