Rock formations and thick river foliage add touch to pools, which were formed after millennia of floods and erosion, and are filled year round by underground streams.

Beside the river bed are boulders which fell from the cliff walls. The darkest rocks are travertine, formed when water runs over limestone for long periods of time. On the cliffs water trickles through the cracks, forming travertine and making it easy for foliage to grow. A large caves on the canyon's wall were formed in a karstic process, indicating that water are away at the rock.

Into the riverbed are rows of limestones with layers of dark flint. Because it is so hard, flint helps to slow the erosion of the limestone and provides a striking contrast to the light color of the lime. Deeper into the gorge, the walls on both sides seem to grow taller. The canyon narrows and bent-over foliage was probably damaged in winter floods.