Editing Death Valley National Park (section)

==Geographic setting==
There are two major valleys in the park, [[Death Valley]] and [[Panamint Valley]]. Both of these valleys were formed within the last few million years and both are bounded by north–south-trending [[mountain range]]s.<ref name="Sharp1997p1"/> These and adjacent valleys follow the general trend of [[Basin and range topography|Basin and Range topography]] with one modification: there are parallel [[strike-slip fault]]s that perpendicularly bound the central extent of Death Valley. The result of this shearing action is additional extension in the central part of Death Valley which causes a slight widening and more subsidence there.

Uplift of surrounding mountain ranges and subsidence of the valley floor are both occurring. The uplift on the Black Mountains is so fast that the [[alluvial fan]]s (fan-shaped deposits at the mouth of canyons) there are small and steep compared to the huge alluvial fans coming off the [[Panamint Range]]. Fast uplift of a mountain range in an arid environment often does not allow its canyons enough time to cut a classic V-shape all the way down to the stream bed. Instead, a V-shape ends at a [[slot canyon]] halfway down, forming a 'wine glass canyon.'  Sediment is deposited on a small and steep alluvial fan.

At {{convert|282|ft|m}} below [[sea level]] at its lowest point,<ref name=NED>{{cite web|url=https://catalog.data.gov/dataset/usgs-national-elevation-dataset-ned-1-meter-downloadable-data-collection-from-the-national-map-|title=USGS National Elevation Dataset (NED) 1 meter Downloadable Data Collection from The National Map 3D Elevation Program (3DEP)|publisher=United States Geological Survey|date=September 21, 2015|access-date=September 22, 2015|archive-date=March 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325085854/https://catalog.data.gov/dataset/usgs-national-elevation-dataset-ned-1-meter-downloadable-data-collection-from-the-national-map-|url-status=dead}}</ref> Badwater Basin on Death Valley's floor is the second-lowest depression in the Western Hemisphere (behind [[Laguna del Carbón]] in [[Argentina]]), while [[Mount Whitney]], only {{convert|85|mi|km}} to the west, rises to {{convert|14505|ft|m}} and is the tallest mountain in the [[contiguous United States]].<ref name="Sharp1997p1">{{harvnb|Sharp|1997|p=1}}</ref> This topographic relief is the greatest elevation gradient in the [[contiguous United States]] and is the terminus point of the [[Great Basin]]'s southwestern drainage.<ref name="Wright1997p611"/> Although the extreme lack of water in the Great Basin makes this distinction of little current practical use, it does mean that in wetter times the lake that once filled Death Valley ([[Lake Manly]]) was the last stop for water flowing in the region, meaning the water there was saturated in dissolved materials. Thus, the [[salt pan (geology)|salt pan]]s in Death Valley are among the largest in the world and are rich in minerals, such as [[borax]] and various salts and [[hydrate]]s.<ref name="Wright1997p625">{{harvnb|Wright and Miller|1997|p=625}}</ref> The largest salt pan in the park extends {{convert|40|mi|km}} from the [[Ashford Mill (California)|Ashford Mill Site]] to the Salt Creek Hills, covering some {{convert|200|sqmi|km2}} of the valley floor.<ref name="Wright1997p625"/><ref group=note>Badwater, the Devils Golf Course, and Salt Creek are all part of the Death Valley Saltpan.</ref> The best known [[Dry lake|playa]] in the park is the [[Racetrack Playa|Racetrack]], known for its moving rocks.{{clear}}