Question

Over two hundred million years ago, What was usual about Wyoming's landscape?

a. Wyoming had several towering landforms like the Devils Tower that eventually eroded to create low hills of rock
b. Wyoming was covered in snow allowing ice to create cracks and erosion of igneous rock
c. Wyoming was covered by a shallow sea that later dried up and left compacted sedimentary rock

Answer 1

Wyoming's landscape over two hundred million years ago was covered by a shallow sea that dried up and left behind compacted sedimentary rock. The geology of the region reflects dynamic changes due to tectonic forces and mountain-building events such as the Laramide Orogeny.

Step-by-step explanation:

Over two hundred million years ago, Wyoming's landscape was covered by a shallow sea that later dried up, leaving compacted sedimentary rock. Distant past landscapes such as those at Zion National Park indicate periods when regions were near sea level and located differently on the globe. Evidence from geological formations like the Waterpocket Fold in Capital Reef, Utah, and the uplifting of the Colorado Plateau show the dynamic nature of Earth's crust due to tectonic forces.

Additionally, the formation of the Rocky Mountains during the Laramide Orogeny contributed to the shaping of the sedimentary rock layers. The uplift and erosion of these areas since their formation illustrate the geological processes that have impacted Wyoming and the surrounding region over millions of years, leading to the landscapes we see today.