Existing comment:
Earth's Lowest
Rock Bottom
As the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere, Death Valley belongs to a world-wide geographic rogues' gallery, whose members share these defining features:
* To have exposed land below sea level, an extremely dry climate is necessary. In wet climates, low places fill with water and overflow to the sea. A dry climate evaporates water, leaving behind salt flats or briny lakes.
* Like most of these locations, Death Valley was not created by a river's erosion. Movements in the earth's crust have dropped it to such great depths.
Below Sea Level
Look on the cliff behind you. Can you find the sign that marks sea level? Sea level is the average elevation of the world's ocean surface and is the standard from which all other elevations are measured. Regardless of tides, "sea level" remains constant.
Badwater Basin -- Death Valley -- California -- -282ft -85.5m
Salton Sea -- California -- -227ft -69m
Lago Enriquillo -- Dominican Republic -- -151ft -46m
Salinas Chicas -- Peninsula Valdes -- Argentina -- -131ft -40m
Sebkhet Tah -- Morocco -- -180ft -55m
Chott Meirh -- Algeria -- -131ft -40m
Sabkhat Ghurayyil -- Libya -- -154ft -47m
Quattaro Depression -- Egypt -- -435ft -133m
Denakil -- Ethopia -- -410ft -125m
Caspian Sea -- Central Asia -- -92ft -28m
Dead Sea -- Jordan -- -1160ft -414m
Vpartina Knundy -- Kazakstan -- -413ft -132m
Vpartina Akchanaya -- Turkmenistan -- -265ft -81m
Turpan Pendi -- China -- -505ft -154m
Lake Eyre -- Australia -- -49ft -15m |