The canyon is the result of erosion which exposes one of the most complete geologic columns on the planet. Within this natural site, sediments of the Cretaceous, Jurassic and Tertiary periods come to the surface, in each of which ancient fossils are found. The Sulak canyon is located in the central part of Dagestan, in the valley of the Sulak river, some 100 km away from Makhachkala.