Previous Year Question
The “Death Valley” in South California, USA is an example of
Anticlinal Valley
Synclinal Valley
Antecedent Valley
Rift Valley
Correct Answer: D
Detailed Solution
Death Valley is situated in eastern California near the Nevada border and forms part of the Basin and Range Province. It developed mainly as a result of crustal extension and faulting.
As the Earth's crust was stretched, numerous normal faults developed in the region. Some crustal blocks subsided between these faults, while adjacent blocks remained relatively uplifted. This produced elongated depressions bordered by elevated mountain blocks. Such tectonic depressions are commonly described in geography as rift valleys or fault-controlled valleys.
The Panamint Range lies to the west of Death Valley and the Amargosa Range to the east. Its Badwater Basin lies about 86 metres below sea level and is the lowest point in North America.
The valley was not formed merely by erosion. Its dominant controlling process is tectonic faulting and crustal extension, so it is not an anticlinal, synclinal or antecedent valley.