The Salt Flat of Death Valley A sun bleached skull with an evil-looking buzzard perched on an out-stretched horn is the iconic image of Death Valley. Death Valley is far more dramatic and interesting than this picture of death. It is thought, about 10-million years ago, a crack (called a fault) develop from the pressure caused by movement in the earth's crust. This fault caused a slip in the crust, raising in the east and lowering in the west. Over the eons, erosion caused by wind, water, and ice has brought massive amounts of the mountains down to fill the valley. During the Ice Ages, Death Valley was a huge lake. (Look for terraces carved by waves on the the foothills.) As the lakes came and went, layers of salty mud covered the Valley's floor. It is thought there are alternating layers of mud and salt more than a mile deep! The floor of Death Valley, covered by ages of mountain rubble and rocks and a river of brilliant white salt, all dancing in the shimmering heat, is basically a huge 200-square mile evaporating dish. Click on a thumbnail to load the full image.

View of salt flat	Looks hot	Devil's Golf Course	Close-up	Even closer
Not so pretty	Looking south	Panorama view from Dante's View	More from Dante's View	And another view
Looking northward	Almost the end

Return to Death Valley Photo Albums