Where is the Basin and Range Province? Briefly describe its appearance and character.

The Basin and Range Province exhibits a unique geological character shaped by millions of years of earth's history. Much like reading chapters from a geological book, the landforms tell a tale of prolonged natural forces at play. This region is primarily characterized by its 'horst and graben' topography, a pattern of alternating high mountains and low valleys that owes its formation to tectonic activity.

Throughout the landscape, evidence of normal faulting is abundant, illustrating the extension or stretching of the Earth's crust. Such faulting has led to the dramatic rise of mountain blocks, referred to as 'horsts', while the adjoining dropped blocks, known as 'grabens', form the basins. Furthermore, the climate here, being quite arid, limits vegetation cover, allowing the bare rocks and geologic structures to stand out starkly, providing a window into the Earth's tectonic processes. Erosion, accelerated by such aridity, also plays a crucial role, further sculpting the terrain into the recognizable series of ridges and basins that define the province's geological character.

Delving into the 'tectonic stretching' that has given shape to the Basin and Range Province unveils a dynamic history of the earth's crust being pulled apart. This process, also known as 'basin and range extension', involves the horizontal stretching and thinning of the crust, reminiscent of pulling on a piece of dough until it splits apart.

Several forces drive this stretching: movements from tectonic plates, and possibly heat from the Earth's mantle causing upwelling and subsequent thinning of the crust. As the crust extends, tensions cause it to fracture, creating faults. Over millions of years, repeated earthquakes along these faults have raised the mountain ranges while the basins have sunk down between them. This continual stretching and movement are not just relics of the past; the region is still actively changing and expanding even today.

When we examine the 'geomorphology' of the Basin and Range Province, we are essentially studying its surface features and the processes that have led to their formation. The stark contrast between the sharply rising mountain ranges and the broad, flat basins is a clear indicator of the region’s geomorphic identity.

This distinctive topography results from the tectonic stretching and normal faulting discussed earlier. Over time, further geomorphic agents such as water and wind erosion, and sediment deposition have played a role in modeling the landscape. Features such as salt flats result from the evaporation of shallow lakes, leaving behind mineral-rich beds. Plateaus arise from layers of hardened volcanic lava and ash, while deep canyons are carved by rivers cutting through the mountains over epochs. The geomorphology of the Basin and Range Province is a complex tapestry that is continuously evolving under the influence of both tectonics and surface processes.