Basin And Range Flashcards, test questions and answers

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What is Basin And Range?

The Basin and Range province is a large area of the western United States encompassing parts of California, Nevada, Oregon, Arizona, Utah and New Mexico. It’s an area of geological complexity that has been shaped by millions of years of tectonic movement and climate change. The region consists mostly of desert terrain characterized by high mountains, deep canyons and wide valleys.The overall topography results from several episodes of crustal extension that began about 17 million years ago when the Farallon Plate subducted beneath the North American Plate along the San Andreas fault system. This created a rift zone between two plates causing them to spread apart which in turn caused Earth’s crust to stretch thin in this region creating long mountain ranges separated by wide intervening basins. The process continues today as earthquakes strike along the boundaries between extended blocks resulting in regular changes to topography. The Basin and Range Province contains many notable features including Death Valley, Mono Lake, Great Salt Lake Desert and Sonoran Desert among others. Its landscapes are incredibly diverse ranging from red sandstone canyons to limestone hills to lava flows with cinder cones dotting their surfaces. This unique combination creates an environment ripe for exploration whether it be hiking through a canyon or paddling down a whitewater river surrounded by sheer cliffs hundreds of feet high. The area is also home to many interesting species such as bighorn sheep, pronghorn antelope and black-tailed jackrabbits as well as over 800 species of plants including Joshua Trees found only here in California’s Mojave Desert ecosystem. Despite its harsh climate, this region is full of natural beauty waiting for those willing to explore it. Whether you’re looking for adventure or just want to take in some incredible scenery – the Basin and Range Province has something special waiting for everyone.