| OCR Text |
Show 42 anticlinal and synclinal folds that trend northwest and are parallel to the larger uplift of the Uncompahgre Plateau, Paradox Valley is an area about 25 miles long and three to four miles wide along the axis of an anticline. It is flanked by cliffs and steep slopes 1,000 to 2,000 feet high. Between the Paradox anticline and the Uncompahgre uplift to the north is a broad syncllne, along the axis of which the San Miguel River and part of the Dolores River flow in a deep canyon. In contrast to the drainage described above paralleling the main structure, the Paradox Valley, a very large topographic feature, is the result of composite erosion of soft formations from the central part of the anticline. There is no major stream in the valley and instead, in paradoxial relationship, the Dolores River crosses the valley at right angles, flowing in a shallow channel across the central part and in precipitous canyons across either side. Sinbad Valley In the Gateway area is northwest of Paradox Valley, which it resembles ewept that Sinbad is an elongate dome. Gypsum Valley, so named because of its extensive exposed gypsum deposits, is about 25 miles long and two to thre^e miles wide and is situated to the south of and parallel to Paradox Valley. The flanking walls although about as high as those of Paradox Valley are less precipitous. Although not so wide, the floor of the valley is along the axis of an anticline similar to the relationship found in the |
