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California's Desert Valleys
The Sierra Nevada Mountains form the eastern spine of California. The Sierras are essentially one massive block (batholith) of granite running 430 miles north to south and 40 to 80 miles across. This block of granite tilts up in the east creating one of the most dramatic escarpments in the world. Mt. Whitney, at the southern end, is the highest point, rising to 14,505 feet. The incomparably beautiful Owens Valley sits in the rain shadow of this towering alpine ridge. Owens Valley represents the westernmost valley of a series of basins and ranges referred to as, not surprisingly, the Basin-Ranges. During the recent ice age these basins or valleys contained lakes hundreds of feet deep that spilled from one to the other in domino-like fashion. One such lake, named Manly, lost its water to a drying climate as the last ice age ended. Today we refer to this desiccated basin as Death Valley. Death Valley, situated less than 100 miles from Mt. Whitney, boasts the lowest point in North America at 282 feet below sea level! Thus, in one day a photographer can easily photograph the highest and lowest points in California. I have done it several times.
