Editing Basin and Range Province (section)

{{Short description|Physiographic region extending through western United States and Mexico}}
[[File:Basin and Range Province Boundaries and Landmarks.svg|thumb|One of various geographical definitions of the Province]]

The '''Basin and Range Province''' is a vast [[United States physiographic region|physiographic region]] covering much of the inland [[Western United States]] and [[Northern Mexico|northwestern Mexico]]. It is defined by unique [[basin and range topography]], characterized by abrupt changes in elevation, alternating between narrow faulted mountain chains and flat arid valleys or basins. The [[physical geography|physiography]] of the province is the result of [[Extensional tectonics|tectonic extension]] that began around 17 million years ago in the early [[Miocene]] epoch.

The numerous ranges within the province in the United States are collectively referred to as the "Great Basin Ranges", although many are not actually in the [[Great Basin]]. Major ranges include the [[Snake Range]], the [[Panamint Range]], the [[White Mountains (California)|White Mountains]], and the [[Sandia Mountains]]. The highest point fully within the province is [[White Mountain Peak]] in [[California]], while the lowest point is the [[Badwater Basin]] in [[Death Valley]] at {{convert|-282|ft}}.<ref name=NED>{{cite web|url=https://catalog.data.gov/dataset/usgs-national-elevation-dataset-ned-1-meter-downloadable-data-collection-from-the-national-map-|title=USGS National Elevation Dataset (NED) 1 meter Downloadable Data Collection from The National Map 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) – National Geospatial Data Asset (NGDA) National Elevation Data Set (NED)|publisher=United States Geological Survey|date=September 21, 2015|access-date=September 22, 2015|archive-date=March 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325085854/https://catalog.data.gov/dataset/usgs-national-elevation-dataset-ned-1-meter-downloadable-data-collection-from-the-national-map-|url-status=dead}}</ref> The province's climate is arid, with numerous [[ecoregions]]. Most [[North American deserts]] are located within it.

The Basin and Range Province should not be confused with the [[Great Basin]], a region defined by its unique hydrological characteristics (internal drainage) that overlaps much of the greater Basin and Range physiographic region. Nor should it be confused with the [[Basin and Range National Monument]], located in Southern Nevada, which is one small part of the much larger province.