Across the Valley. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.
A desert wash curves past barren desert hills on its way to the salt flats of Death Valley.
Visitors to Death Valley might not immediately realize how much of a role water has played (and continues to play) in shaping the place. I like to point out that this location, known for its heat and aridity, is one of the best places to see the effects of water laid bare. The vast playa and salt plains in the valley are formed by water that settles there and evaporates. The Valley once held an ancient (and quite large!) lake. The alluvial fans — like that in the foreground of the photo — are laced with waterways, small and large. The present-day forms of the mountains result largely from water eroding uplifted blocks.
The location of the photograph is on one of the immense alluvial fans that descend from rugged mountains toward the playa. In this area the fan is interrupted by groupings of mostly-barren hills, many featuring darker rock, and they line up in interesting patterns. In the far distance, perhaps up to 50 miles away, lie mountains at the far southern end of the Valley.
G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.
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