Alluvial Foothills
Death Valley National Park
Desert Holly leads into rugged foothills of the Grapevine Mts. It rarely rains in Death Valley (1/2" per year or less) but when it does it can be a cataclysmic event, which means flash flooding. From this picture can be seen many ravines and drainages where water has rushed down into the lower Mesquite Flat basin. Far in the background, left of center, is Grapevine Peak at 8,737 feet. Now that does not rank high among mountains, but keep in mind that elevtion varies in Death Valley National Park from -282 feet below sea level (lowest point in North America) to 11,050 feet on Telescope Peak. Photo © copyright by Frank LeBlanc.