geologic history of the Great Basin

The Great Basin's geologic history involves a series of tectonic shifts that created a large, arid area with multiple basins and mountain ranges. Starting around 30 million years ago, faulting and stretching caused the land to fracture, forming deep valleys (basins) and uplifted mountains. The region was shaped by volcanic activity, erosion, and sediment deposits, resulting in its distinctive landscape. Over time, climate changes led to lakes filling and drying out repeatedly. This dynamic history was driven by movements of the Earth's crust in the Pacific-North American plate boundary, giving the Great Basin its complex geological features today.