Badwater Spring and fault scarp

Death Valley formed because of crustal extension, which has caused "normal" faults to break up the crust. The mountains rise along these faults and the valley floor drops down. This activity is ongoing, the evidence of which can be seen in the next few slides.

Badwater Spring, officially the lowest spot in Death Valley (it's actually a little lower out in the salt pan), is at an elevation of -282. The spring issues from the frontal fault of the Black Mountains, which can be seen in the background breaking the alluvial fan. The resulting step in the alluvial fan is called a "fault scarp." As the fault cuts the fan, it must be recently active.

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