The downwarping of the lithosphere beneath an actively forming mountain chain continues for some distance beyond the fold-and-thrust belt, thus producing a(n)

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The downwarping of the lithosphere beneath an actively forming mountain chain beyond the fold-and-thrust belt produces an elongate foreland basin. This is a common feature in tectonically active regions where mountain building is occurring, such as the Rocky Mountains in North America or the Himalayas in Asia. The foreland basin is created by the weight of the mountains pushing down on the lithosphere and causing it to deform and subside, resulting in the formation of a depression filled with sediment eroded from the mountains.

The Downwarping of the Lithosphere Beneath an Actively Forming Mountain