Owens Valley

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/owens-valley

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. Where is Owens Valley?Eastern California, USA, situated between the Sierra Nevada and the White/Inyo Mountains
2. How many people live in Owens Valley?Approximately 25,000 people
3. How big is Owens Valley?Approximately 100 miles long and 10-15 miles wide
4. What is the capital of Owens Valley?Bishop is the largest town and commercial center
5. What language do people speak in Owens Valley?English is the primary language; Mono language has historical significance
6. Why is Owens Valley so dry?The tall Sierra Nevada mountains block moist air from the Pacific Ocean, creating a rain shadow that keeps the valley very dry and gives it a desert climate.

Basin and Range Topography: A geological region characterized by numerous north-south trending mountain ranges separated by wide, flat valleys or basins.
Aridity: The state of being extremely dry, typically due to a lack of rainfall and high evaporation rates.
Tectonic Activity: The movement and interaction of the Earth's crustal plates, which can lead to earthquakes, volcanic activity, and the formation of mountains and valleys.
Endorheic Lake: A lake that does not have an outlet to the sea, with water loss primarily through evaporation.