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How can a valley surrounded by mountains be fertile and rainy?


She Can Move Mountains (Literally)The Monstrosities of the Appalachian Mountains and the Great Lake (No Plural “S”)Ultimate Australian CanalIf the sun of a fictional world did not rise on random days, how would it affect its civilizations?How can I ensure that a supercontinent has fertile ground away from coastal areas?Can tablelands produce a rain shadow like mountains do?Ringstadt: How sensible is my topography?Can mountains ever transition abruptly to plains?Near spherical alien species - How can they move?Realistic placements of Mountains and the like






.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__bot-mid-leaderboard:empty margin-bottom:0;








4












$begingroup$


We all know about Rain Shadow - And if you don't now you do - and that the inner side of a mountain as compared to the ocean would be drier.



Now a worldbuiding problem going around that phenomenon. Imagine a large and wide valley (several dozens of miles wide in all directions) surrounded by tall mountains in all sides. Should be a desert, right? Except it is not. It is a lush and fertile land, with rainy seasons and extensive flora and fauna.



How can it be possible?



This is not reality-check so no frame challenges please. Stay science-based so no magic. Within the premises above, what conditions would cause such an environment?










share|improve this question









$endgroup$











  • $begingroup$
    Have you thought about putting a lake in the center?
    $endgroup$
    – dot_Sp0T
    9 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    "surrounded by mountains on all sides" this seems at odds with being a wide valley... it has to have an outflow somewhere, right? It isn't a canyon or an endorheic basin...
    $endgroup$
    – Starfish Prime
    9 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    Fertile is easy (convenient aquifers). Rainy is hard.
    $endgroup$
    – user535733
    9 hours ago











  • $begingroup$
    Maybe this planet is very warm & it pretty much rains everywhere all the time. Sort of like what people guessed Venus was back in the early 20th century (see a couple Ray Bradbury stories, e.g.)
    $endgroup$
    – Carl Witthoft
    7 hours ago

















4












$begingroup$


We all know about Rain Shadow - And if you don't now you do - and that the inner side of a mountain as compared to the ocean would be drier.



Now a worldbuiding problem going around that phenomenon. Imagine a large and wide valley (several dozens of miles wide in all directions) surrounded by tall mountains in all sides. Should be a desert, right? Except it is not. It is a lush and fertile land, with rainy seasons and extensive flora and fauna.



How can it be possible?



This is not reality-check so no frame challenges please. Stay science-based so no magic. Within the premises above, what conditions would cause such an environment?










share|improve this question









$endgroup$











  • $begingroup$
    Have you thought about putting a lake in the center?
    $endgroup$
    – dot_Sp0T
    9 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    "surrounded by mountains on all sides" this seems at odds with being a wide valley... it has to have an outflow somewhere, right? It isn't a canyon or an endorheic basin...
    $endgroup$
    – Starfish Prime
    9 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    Fertile is easy (convenient aquifers). Rainy is hard.
    $endgroup$
    – user535733
    9 hours ago











  • $begingroup$
    Maybe this planet is very warm & it pretty much rains everywhere all the time. Sort of like what people guessed Venus was back in the early 20th century (see a couple Ray Bradbury stories, e.g.)
    $endgroup$
    – Carl Witthoft
    7 hours ago













4












4








4


2



$begingroup$


We all know about Rain Shadow - And if you don't now you do - and that the inner side of a mountain as compared to the ocean would be drier.



Now a worldbuiding problem going around that phenomenon. Imagine a large and wide valley (several dozens of miles wide in all directions) surrounded by tall mountains in all sides. Should be a desert, right? Except it is not. It is a lush and fertile land, with rainy seasons and extensive flora and fauna.



How can it be possible?



This is not reality-check so no frame challenges please. Stay science-based so no magic. Within the premises above, what conditions would cause such an environment?










share|improve this question









$endgroup$




We all know about Rain Shadow - And if you don't now you do - and that the inner side of a mountain as compared to the ocean would be drier.



Now a worldbuiding problem going around that phenomenon. Imagine a large and wide valley (several dozens of miles wide in all directions) surrounded by tall mountains in all sides. Should be a desert, right? Except it is not. It is a lush and fertile land, with rainy seasons and extensive flora and fauna.



How can it be possible?



This is not reality-check so no frame challenges please. Stay science-based so no magic. Within the premises above, what conditions would cause such an environment?







science-based environment climate geography






share|improve this question













share|improve this question











share|improve this question




share|improve this question










asked 9 hours ago









MindwinMindwin

6,2674 gold badges26 silver badges62 bronze badges




6,2674 gold badges26 silver badges62 bronze badges











  • $begingroup$
    Have you thought about putting a lake in the center?
    $endgroup$
    – dot_Sp0T
    9 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    "surrounded by mountains on all sides" this seems at odds with being a wide valley... it has to have an outflow somewhere, right? It isn't a canyon or an endorheic basin...
    $endgroup$
    – Starfish Prime
    9 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    Fertile is easy (convenient aquifers). Rainy is hard.
    $endgroup$
    – user535733
    9 hours ago











  • $begingroup$
    Maybe this planet is very warm & it pretty much rains everywhere all the time. Sort of like what people guessed Venus was back in the early 20th century (see a couple Ray Bradbury stories, e.g.)
    $endgroup$
    – Carl Witthoft
    7 hours ago
















  • $begingroup$
    Have you thought about putting a lake in the center?
    $endgroup$
    – dot_Sp0T
    9 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    "surrounded by mountains on all sides" this seems at odds with being a wide valley... it has to have an outflow somewhere, right? It isn't a canyon or an endorheic basin...
    $endgroup$
    – Starfish Prime
    9 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    Fertile is easy (convenient aquifers). Rainy is hard.
    $endgroup$
    – user535733
    9 hours ago











  • $begingroup$
    Maybe this planet is very warm & it pretty much rains everywhere all the time. Sort of like what people guessed Venus was back in the early 20th century (see a couple Ray Bradbury stories, e.g.)
    $endgroup$
    – Carl Witthoft
    7 hours ago















$begingroup$
Have you thought about putting a lake in the center?
$endgroup$
– dot_Sp0T
9 hours ago




$begingroup$
Have you thought about putting a lake in the center?
$endgroup$
– dot_Sp0T
9 hours ago












$begingroup$
"surrounded by mountains on all sides" this seems at odds with being a wide valley... it has to have an outflow somewhere, right? It isn't a canyon or an endorheic basin...
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
9 hours ago




$begingroup$
"surrounded by mountains on all sides" this seems at odds with being a wide valley... it has to have an outflow somewhere, right? It isn't a canyon or an endorheic basin...
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
9 hours ago












$begingroup$
Fertile is easy (convenient aquifers). Rainy is hard.
$endgroup$
– user535733
9 hours ago





$begingroup$
Fertile is easy (convenient aquifers). Rainy is hard.
$endgroup$
– user535733
9 hours ago













$begingroup$
Maybe this planet is very warm & it pretty much rains everywhere all the time. Sort of like what people guessed Venus was back in the early 20th century (see a couple Ray Bradbury stories, e.g.)
$endgroup$
– Carl Witthoft
7 hours ago




$begingroup$
Maybe this planet is very warm & it pretty much rains everywhere all the time. Sort of like what people guessed Venus was back in the early 20th century (see a couple Ray Bradbury stories, e.g.)
$endgroup$
– Carl Witthoft
7 hours ago










4 Answers
4






active

oldest

votes


















5












$begingroup$

Simplest answer is a very large warm water lake in the centre (Around the size of the great lakes if you can, but even a lake half as big will work, even as little as 25km in diameter is good enough to have some effect). The lake will change the pressure in the area, creating some small amounts of rain. The water table can be close to the surface, allowing trees to grow, and there can be frequent flooding of this lake (makes sense, the water has no where to go when it rains).



And that gives you a realistic fertile land that rains sometimes.



Here is a link explaining some of the effects the great lakes have on the weather.
http://greatlakesliteracy.net/principles/3/




The Great Lakes influence local and regional weather and climate.



A:
The Great Lakes affect weather and climate by impacting the basin’s energy and water cycles. Changes in the Great Lakes’ water
circulation, water temperatures and ice cover can produce changes in
weather patterns.



B:
The Great Lakes warm by absorbing solar radiation. Lake temperatures are also affected locally by the temperature of inflowing
river waters. The Great Lakes lose heat by evaporation and by warming
the overlying air when the atmosphere is cool. After water vapor is
released into the atmosphere, it condenses and forms precipitation,
some of which falls within the Great Lakes Basin.



C:
The Great Lakes modify the local weather and climate. Because water temperatures change more slowly than land temperatures, lake
waters gain heat in summer and release heat during cooler months. This
results in cooler springs, warmer falls, delayed frosts and lake
effect snow.



D:
The Great Lakes have a significant influence on regional climate by absorbing, storing and moving heat and water. Lake effect
precipitation can occur downwind when major weather systems move over
the lakes.



E:
The Great Lakes are influenced by larger climate change patterns affecting North America and the world. Climate patterns in the Great
Lakes are changing, with warmer and drier conditions predicted.




Depending on the height of the mountains, you have an interesting secondary concern, shorter days. This will help keep the area cool during the day, allowing for people to work harder and allowing plants to grow without being dried out.






share|improve this answer











$endgroup$












  • $begingroup$
    Warm water lake could even be volcanic - would make sense in context of "surrounded by mountains on all sides". Normally no outflow = salty lake, but a volcanic crater is relatively "young".
    $endgroup$
    – IronEagle
    9 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    I really like this answer. I just wish that the OP's limit of "several dozens of miles" were big enough to permit this. +1 anyway.
    $endgroup$
    – user535733
    9 hours ago











  • $begingroup$
    @user535733 It is. 24 miles is more than enough to do this. It should start to happen at around a 25km diameter. My parents live near a lake of that size, and it is amazing just how much it affects the local weather. You can watch storms on the horizon change direction suddenly to avoid the lake. Then it spins when it hits the lake creating water spouts.
    $endgroup$
    – Trevor D
    8 hours ago


















4












$begingroup$

Because the mountains aren't high enough to block all the weather systems that come that way. This can be a function of:



A. Them actually being relatively low all around i.e. less than 1000m above sea level so they just don't block the weather, mountains of this size may seem small but if they're extensive and broken enough they'd still be impassable.



or



B. The mountains have wide passes at relatively low altitude that lets weather systems into the valley when they're moving to the right direction, this could make for a distinct wet and dry season if there is something like a monsoon weather cycle operating.



Alternatively the water may be in the form of glacial melt in which case the precipitation that supplies in need not occur within the valley but rather on outward facing slopes with the glaciers twisting back into the valley. Or even in the form of springs feeding through porous rock into the valley from outside.



The fertility is a given, if there's enough water coming into the valley it will be depositing rich sediment into the valley bottom creating and renewing a rich soil layer.






share|improve this answer









$endgroup$












  • $begingroup$
    Or even that the mountain ranges run East-West and are much wider to the East, essentially "trapping" wind & clouds flowing to the West.
    $endgroup$
    – Carl Witthoft
    7 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    @CarlWitthoft Yeah that works but I'm not sure if it meets the "completely surrounded" bit of the question because I can't quite visualise what you mean by that.
    $endgroup$
    – Ash
    7 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    +1 about the water, but rocky precipitates are not particulary fertile, especially if all the fine particles get washed out with the underground river leaving the valley.
    $endgroup$
    – Karl
    7 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    @Karl What underground river? The valley may drain to ground water and it may only have evaporation as an outlet but neither of these necessarily allow for any transportation of sediment, no matter how fine, out of the system.
    $endgroup$
    – Ash
    7 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    Ground water == underground river. No outflow at all == regular flooding when the snow melts.
    $endgroup$
    – Karl
    6 hours ago


















3












$begingroup$

I give you Kelowna, British Columbia, and the Okanagan Valley. Surrounded by mountains, it's a humid continental climate with no shortage of vegetation and is certainly no desert.



For a larger example, the entire interior of British Columbia: between the Coast Range and the Rockies, the Interior consists of topographically lower plateaus and valleys with assorted climates, none of them desert-like.






share|improve this answer









$endgroup$




















    0












    $begingroup$

    There are a number of options.



    Glaciers



    There are glacier vallies up in the mountains and ithe ice flows provide water.




    Aquifier surfaces



    There is a water rich layer of rock, an underground river providing water to the valley for the ocean side.






    share|improve this answer









    $endgroup$















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      4 Answers
      4






      active

      oldest

      votes








      4 Answers
      4






      active

      oldest

      votes









      active

      oldest

      votes






      active

      oldest

      votes









      5












      $begingroup$

      Simplest answer is a very large warm water lake in the centre (Around the size of the great lakes if you can, but even a lake half as big will work, even as little as 25km in diameter is good enough to have some effect). The lake will change the pressure in the area, creating some small amounts of rain. The water table can be close to the surface, allowing trees to grow, and there can be frequent flooding of this lake (makes sense, the water has no where to go when it rains).



      And that gives you a realistic fertile land that rains sometimes.



      Here is a link explaining some of the effects the great lakes have on the weather.
      http://greatlakesliteracy.net/principles/3/




      The Great Lakes influence local and regional weather and climate.



      A:
      The Great Lakes affect weather and climate by impacting the basin’s energy and water cycles. Changes in the Great Lakes’ water
      circulation, water temperatures and ice cover can produce changes in
      weather patterns.



      B:
      The Great Lakes warm by absorbing solar radiation. Lake temperatures are also affected locally by the temperature of inflowing
      river waters. The Great Lakes lose heat by evaporation and by warming
      the overlying air when the atmosphere is cool. After water vapor is
      released into the atmosphere, it condenses and forms precipitation,
      some of which falls within the Great Lakes Basin.



      C:
      The Great Lakes modify the local weather and climate. Because water temperatures change more slowly than land temperatures, lake
      waters gain heat in summer and release heat during cooler months. This
      results in cooler springs, warmer falls, delayed frosts and lake
      effect snow.



      D:
      The Great Lakes have a significant influence on regional climate by absorbing, storing and moving heat and water. Lake effect
      precipitation can occur downwind when major weather systems move over
      the lakes.



      E:
      The Great Lakes are influenced by larger climate change patterns affecting North America and the world. Climate patterns in the Great
      Lakes are changing, with warmer and drier conditions predicted.




      Depending on the height of the mountains, you have an interesting secondary concern, shorter days. This will help keep the area cool during the day, allowing for people to work harder and allowing plants to grow without being dried out.






      share|improve this answer











      $endgroup$












      • $begingroup$
        Warm water lake could even be volcanic - would make sense in context of "surrounded by mountains on all sides". Normally no outflow = salty lake, but a volcanic crater is relatively "young".
        $endgroup$
        – IronEagle
        9 hours ago










      • $begingroup$
        I really like this answer. I just wish that the OP's limit of "several dozens of miles" were big enough to permit this. +1 anyway.
        $endgroup$
        – user535733
        9 hours ago











      • $begingroup$
        @user535733 It is. 24 miles is more than enough to do this. It should start to happen at around a 25km diameter. My parents live near a lake of that size, and it is amazing just how much it affects the local weather. You can watch storms on the horizon change direction suddenly to avoid the lake. Then it spins when it hits the lake creating water spouts.
        $endgroup$
        – Trevor D
        8 hours ago















      5












      $begingroup$

      Simplest answer is a very large warm water lake in the centre (Around the size of the great lakes if you can, but even a lake half as big will work, even as little as 25km in diameter is good enough to have some effect). The lake will change the pressure in the area, creating some small amounts of rain. The water table can be close to the surface, allowing trees to grow, and there can be frequent flooding of this lake (makes sense, the water has no where to go when it rains).



      And that gives you a realistic fertile land that rains sometimes.



      Here is a link explaining some of the effects the great lakes have on the weather.
      http://greatlakesliteracy.net/principles/3/




      The Great Lakes influence local and regional weather and climate.



      A:
      The Great Lakes affect weather and climate by impacting the basin’s energy and water cycles. Changes in the Great Lakes’ water
      circulation, water temperatures and ice cover can produce changes in
      weather patterns.



      B:
      The Great Lakes warm by absorbing solar radiation. Lake temperatures are also affected locally by the temperature of inflowing
      river waters. The Great Lakes lose heat by evaporation and by warming
      the overlying air when the atmosphere is cool. After water vapor is
      released into the atmosphere, it condenses and forms precipitation,
      some of which falls within the Great Lakes Basin.



      C:
      The Great Lakes modify the local weather and climate. Because water temperatures change more slowly than land temperatures, lake
      waters gain heat in summer and release heat during cooler months. This
      results in cooler springs, warmer falls, delayed frosts and lake
      effect snow.



      D:
      The Great Lakes have a significant influence on regional climate by absorbing, storing and moving heat and water. Lake effect
      precipitation can occur downwind when major weather systems move over
      the lakes.



      E:
      The Great Lakes are influenced by larger climate change patterns affecting North America and the world. Climate patterns in the Great
      Lakes are changing, with warmer and drier conditions predicted.




      Depending on the height of the mountains, you have an interesting secondary concern, shorter days. This will help keep the area cool during the day, allowing for people to work harder and allowing plants to grow without being dried out.






      share|improve this answer











      $endgroup$












      • $begingroup$
        Warm water lake could even be volcanic - would make sense in context of "surrounded by mountains on all sides". Normally no outflow = salty lake, but a volcanic crater is relatively "young".
        $endgroup$
        – IronEagle
        9 hours ago










      • $begingroup$
        I really like this answer. I just wish that the OP's limit of "several dozens of miles" were big enough to permit this. +1 anyway.
        $endgroup$
        – user535733
        9 hours ago











      • $begingroup$
        @user535733 It is. 24 miles is more than enough to do this. It should start to happen at around a 25km diameter. My parents live near a lake of that size, and it is amazing just how much it affects the local weather. You can watch storms on the horizon change direction suddenly to avoid the lake. Then it spins when it hits the lake creating water spouts.
        $endgroup$
        – Trevor D
        8 hours ago













      5












      5








      5





      $begingroup$

      Simplest answer is a very large warm water lake in the centre (Around the size of the great lakes if you can, but even a lake half as big will work, even as little as 25km in diameter is good enough to have some effect). The lake will change the pressure in the area, creating some small amounts of rain. The water table can be close to the surface, allowing trees to grow, and there can be frequent flooding of this lake (makes sense, the water has no where to go when it rains).



      And that gives you a realistic fertile land that rains sometimes.



      Here is a link explaining some of the effects the great lakes have on the weather.
      http://greatlakesliteracy.net/principles/3/




      The Great Lakes influence local and regional weather and climate.



      A:
      The Great Lakes affect weather and climate by impacting the basin’s energy and water cycles. Changes in the Great Lakes’ water
      circulation, water temperatures and ice cover can produce changes in
      weather patterns.



      B:
      The Great Lakes warm by absorbing solar radiation. Lake temperatures are also affected locally by the temperature of inflowing
      river waters. The Great Lakes lose heat by evaporation and by warming
      the overlying air when the atmosphere is cool. After water vapor is
      released into the atmosphere, it condenses and forms precipitation,
      some of which falls within the Great Lakes Basin.



      C:
      The Great Lakes modify the local weather and climate. Because water temperatures change more slowly than land temperatures, lake
      waters gain heat in summer and release heat during cooler months. This
      results in cooler springs, warmer falls, delayed frosts and lake
      effect snow.



      D:
      The Great Lakes have a significant influence on regional climate by absorbing, storing and moving heat and water. Lake effect
      precipitation can occur downwind when major weather systems move over
      the lakes.



      E:
      The Great Lakes are influenced by larger climate change patterns affecting North America and the world. Climate patterns in the Great
      Lakes are changing, with warmer and drier conditions predicted.




      Depending on the height of the mountains, you have an interesting secondary concern, shorter days. This will help keep the area cool during the day, allowing for people to work harder and allowing plants to grow without being dried out.






      share|improve this answer











      $endgroup$



      Simplest answer is a very large warm water lake in the centre (Around the size of the great lakes if you can, but even a lake half as big will work, even as little as 25km in diameter is good enough to have some effect). The lake will change the pressure in the area, creating some small amounts of rain. The water table can be close to the surface, allowing trees to grow, and there can be frequent flooding of this lake (makes sense, the water has no where to go when it rains).



      And that gives you a realistic fertile land that rains sometimes.



      Here is a link explaining some of the effects the great lakes have on the weather.
      http://greatlakesliteracy.net/principles/3/




      The Great Lakes influence local and regional weather and climate.



      A:
      The Great Lakes affect weather and climate by impacting the basin’s energy and water cycles. Changes in the Great Lakes’ water
      circulation, water temperatures and ice cover can produce changes in
      weather patterns.



      B:
      The Great Lakes warm by absorbing solar radiation. Lake temperatures are also affected locally by the temperature of inflowing
      river waters. The Great Lakes lose heat by evaporation and by warming
      the overlying air when the atmosphere is cool. After water vapor is
      released into the atmosphere, it condenses and forms precipitation,
      some of which falls within the Great Lakes Basin.



      C:
      The Great Lakes modify the local weather and climate. Because water temperatures change more slowly than land temperatures, lake
      waters gain heat in summer and release heat during cooler months. This
      results in cooler springs, warmer falls, delayed frosts and lake
      effect snow.



      D:
      The Great Lakes have a significant influence on regional climate by absorbing, storing and moving heat and water. Lake effect
      precipitation can occur downwind when major weather systems move over
      the lakes.



      E:
      The Great Lakes are influenced by larger climate change patterns affecting North America and the world. Climate patterns in the Great
      Lakes are changing, with warmer and drier conditions predicted.




      Depending on the height of the mountains, you have an interesting secondary concern, shorter days. This will help keep the area cool during the day, allowing for people to work harder and allowing plants to grow without being dried out.







      share|improve this answer














      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer








      edited 9 hours ago

























      answered 9 hours ago









      Trevor DTrevor D

      3,1443 silver badges22 bronze badges




      3,1443 silver badges22 bronze badges











      • $begingroup$
        Warm water lake could even be volcanic - would make sense in context of "surrounded by mountains on all sides". Normally no outflow = salty lake, but a volcanic crater is relatively "young".
        $endgroup$
        – IronEagle
        9 hours ago










      • $begingroup$
        I really like this answer. I just wish that the OP's limit of "several dozens of miles" were big enough to permit this. +1 anyway.
        $endgroup$
        – user535733
        9 hours ago











      • $begingroup$
        @user535733 It is. 24 miles is more than enough to do this. It should start to happen at around a 25km diameter. My parents live near a lake of that size, and it is amazing just how much it affects the local weather. You can watch storms on the horizon change direction suddenly to avoid the lake. Then it spins when it hits the lake creating water spouts.
        $endgroup$
        – Trevor D
        8 hours ago
















      • $begingroup$
        Warm water lake could even be volcanic - would make sense in context of "surrounded by mountains on all sides". Normally no outflow = salty lake, but a volcanic crater is relatively "young".
        $endgroup$
        – IronEagle
        9 hours ago










      • $begingroup$
        I really like this answer. I just wish that the OP's limit of "several dozens of miles" were big enough to permit this. +1 anyway.
        $endgroup$
        – user535733
        9 hours ago











      • $begingroup$
        @user535733 It is. 24 miles is more than enough to do this. It should start to happen at around a 25km diameter. My parents live near a lake of that size, and it is amazing just how much it affects the local weather. You can watch storms on the horizon change direction suddenly to avoid the lake. Then it spins when it hits the lake creating water spouts.
        $endgroup$
        – Trevor D
        8 hours ago















      $begingroup$
      Warm water lake could even be volcanic - would make sense in context of "surrounded by mountains on all sides". Normally no outflow = salty lake, but a volcanic crater is relatively "young".
      $endgroup$
      – IronEagle
      9 hours ago




      $begingroup$
      Warm water lake could even be volcanic - would make sense in context of "surrounded by mountains on all sides". Normally no outflow = salty lake, but a volcanic crater is relatively "young".
      $endgroup$
      – IronEagle
      9 hours ago












      $begingroup$
      I really like this answer. I just wish that the OP's limit of "several dozens of miles" were big enough to permit this. +1 anyway.
      $endgroup$
      – user535733
      9 hours ago





      $begingroup$
      I really like this answer. I just wish that the OP's limit of "several dozens of miles" were big enough to permit this. +1 anyway.
      $endgroup$
      – user535733
      9 hours ago













      $begingroup$
      @user535733 It is. 24 miles is more than enough to do this. It should start to happen at around a 25km diameter. My parents live near a lake of that size, and it is amazing just how much it affects the local weather. You can watch storms on the horizon change direction suddenly to avoid the lake. Then it spins when it hits the lake creating water spouts.
      $endgroup$
      – Trevor D
      8 hours ago




      $begingroup$
      @user535733 It is. 24 miles is more than enough to do this. It should start to happen at around a 25km diameter. My parents live near a lake of that size, and it is amazing just how much it affects the local weather. You can watch storms on the horizon change direction suddenly to avoid the lake. Then it spins when it hits the lake creating water spouts.
      $endgroup$
      – Trevor D
      8 hours ago













      4












      $begingroup$

      Because the mountains aren't high enough to block all the weather systems that come that way. This can be a function of:



      A. Them actually being relatively low all around i.e. less than 1000m above sea level so they just don't block the weather, mountains of this size may seem small but if they're extensive and broken enough they'd still be impassable.



      or



      B. The mountains have wide passes at relatively low altitude that lets weather systems into the valley when they're moving to the right direction, this could make for a distinct wet and dry season if there is something like a monsoon weather cycle operating.



      Alternatively the water may be in the form of glacial melt in which case the precipitation that supplies in need not occur within the valley but rather on outward facing slopes with the glaciers twisting back into the valley. Or even in the form of springs feeding through porous rock into the valley from outside.



      The fertility is a given, if there's enough water coming into the valley it will be depositing rich sediment into the valley bottom creating and renewing a rich soil layer.






      share|improve this answer









      $endgroup$












      • $begingroup$
        Or even that the mountain ranges run East-West and are much wider to the East, essentially "trapping" wind & clouds flowing to the West.
        $endgroup$
        – Carl Witthoft
        7 hours ago










      • $begingroup$
        @CarlWitthoft Yeah that works but I'm not sure if it meets the "completely surrounded" bit of the question because I can't quite visualise what you mean by that.
        $endgroup$
        – Ash
        7 hours ago










      • $begingroup$
        +1 about the water, but rocky precipitates are not particulary fertile, especially if all the fine particles get washed out with the underground river leaving the valley.
        $endgroup$
        – Karl
        7 hours ago










      • $begingroup$
        @Karl What underground river? The valley may drain to ground water and it may only have evaporation as an outlet but neither of these necessarily allow for any transportation of sediment, no matter how fine, out of the system.
        $endgroup$
        – Ash
        7 hours ago










      • $begingroup$
        Ground water == underground river. No outflow at all == regular flooding when the snow melts.
        $endgroup$
        – Karl
        6 hours ago















      4












      $begingroup$

      Because the mountains aren't high enough to block all the weather systems that come that way. This can be a function of:



      A. Them actually being relatively low all around i.e. less than 1000m above sea level so they just don't block the weather, mountains of this size may seem small but if they're extensive and broken enough they'd still be impassable.



      or



      B. The mountains have wide passes at relatively low altitude that lets weather systems into the valley when they're moving to the right direction, this could make for a distinct wet and dry season if there is something like a monsoon weather cycle operating.



      Alternatively the water may be in the form of glacial melt in which case the precipitation that supplies in need not occur within the valley but rather on outward facing slopes with the glaciers twisting back into the valley. Or even in the form of springs feeding through porous rock into the valley from outside.



      The fertility is a given, if there's enough water coming into the valley it will be depositing rich sediment into the valley bottom creating and renewing a rich soil layer.






      share|improve this answer









      $endgroup$












      • $begingroup$
        Or even that the mountain ranges run East-West and are much wider to the East, essentially "trapping" wind & clouds flowing to the West.
        $endgroup$
        – Carl Witthoft
        7 hours ago










      • $begingroup$
        @CarlWitthoft Yeah that works but I'm not sure if it meets the "completely surrounded" bit of the question because I can't quite visualise what you mean by that.
        $endgroup$
        – Ash
        7 hours ago










      • $begingroup$
        +1 about the water, but rocky precipitates are not particulary fertile, especially if all the fine particles get washed out with the underground river leaving the valley.
        $endgroup$
        – Karl
        7 hours ago










      • $begingroup$
        @Karl What underground river? The valley may drain to ground water and it may only have evaporation as an outlet but neither of these necessarily allow for any transportation of sediment, no matter how fine, out of the system.
        $endgroup$
        – Ash
        7 hours ago










      • $begingroup$
        Ground water == underground river. No outflow at all == regular flooding when the snow melts.
        $endgroup$
        – Karl
        6 hours ago













      4












      4








      4





      $begingroup$

      Because the mountains aren't high enough to block all the weather systems that come that way. This can be a function of:



      A. Them actually being relatively low all around i.e. less than 1000m above sea level so they just don't block the weather, mountains of this size may seem small but if they're extensive and broken enough they'd still be impassable.



      or



      B. The mountains have wide passes at relatively low altitude that lets weather systems into the valley when they're moving to the right direction, this could make for a distinct wet and dry season if there is something like a monsoon weather cycle operating.



      Alternatively the water may be in the form of glacial melt in which case the precipitation that supplies in need not occur within the valley but rather on outward facing slopes with the glaciers twisting back into the valley. Or even in the form of springs feeding through porous rock into the valley from outside.



      The fertility is a given, if there's enough water coming into the valley it will be depositing rich sediment into the valley bottom creating and renewing a rich soil layer.






      share|improve this answer









      $endgroup$



      Because the mountains aren't high enough to block all the weather systems that come that way. This can be a function of:



      A. Them actually being relatively low all around i.e. less than 1000m above sea level so they just don't block the weather, mountains of this size may seem small but if they're extensive and broken enough they'd still be impassable.



      or



      B. The mountains have wide passes at relatively low altitude that lets weather systems into the valley when they're moving to the right direction, this could make for a distinct wet and dry season if there is something like a monsoon weather cycle operating.



      Alternatively the water may be in the form of glacial melt in which case the precipitation that supplies in need not occur within the valley but rather on outward facing slopes with the glaciers twisting back into the valley. Or even in the form of springs feeding through porous rock into the valley from outside.



      The fertility is a given, if there's enough water coming into the valley it will be depositing rich sediment into the valley bottom creating and renewing a rich soil layer.







      share|improve this answer












      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer










      answered 9 hours ago









      AshAsh

      30.1k4 gold badges73 silver badges165 bronze badges




      30.1k4 gold badges73 silver badges165 bronze badges











      • $begingroup$
        Or even that the mountain ranges run East-West and are much wider to the East, essentially "trapping" wind & clouds flowing to the West.
        $endgroup$
        – Carl Witthoft
        7 hours ago










      • $begingroup$
        @CarlWitthoft Yeah that works but I'm not sure if it meets the "completely surrounded" bit of the question because I can't quite visualise what you mean by that.
        $endgroup$
        – Ash
        7 hours ago










      • $begingroup$
        +1 about the water, but rocky precipitates are not particulary fertile, especially if all the fine particles get washed out with the underground river leaving the valley.
        $endgroup$
        – Karl
        7 hours ago










      • $begingroup$
        @Karl What underground river? The valley may drain to ground water and it may only have evaporation as an outlet but neither of these necessarily allow for any transportation of sediment, no matter how fine, out of the system.
        $endgroup$
        – Ash
        7 hours ago










      • $begingroup$
        Ground water == underground river. No outflow at all == regular flooding when the snow melts.
        $endgroup$
        – Karl
        6 hours ago
















      • $begingroup$
        Or even that the mountain ranges run East-West and are much wider to the East, essentially "trapping" wind & clouds flowing to the West.
        $endgroup$
        – Carl Witthoft
        7 hours ago










      • $begingroup$
        @CarlWitthoft Yeah that works but I'm not sure if it meets the "completely surrounded" bit of the question because I can't quite visualise what you mean by that.
        $endgroup$
        – Ash
        7 hours ago










      • $begingroup$
        +1 about the water, but rocky precipitates are not particulary fertile, especially if all the fine particles get washed out with the underground river leaving the valley.
        $endgroup$
        – Karl
        7 hours ago










      • $begingroup$
        @Karl What underground river? The valley may drain to ground water and it may only have evaporation as an outlet but neither of these necessarily allow for any transportation of sediment, no matter how fine, out of the system.
        $endgroup$
        – Ash
        7 hours ago










      • $begingroup$
        Ground water == underground river. No outflow at all == regular flooding when the snow melts.
        $endgroup$
        – Karl
        6 hours ago















      $begingroup$
      Or even that the mountain ranges run East-West and are much wider to the East, essentially "trapping" wind & clouds flowing to the West.
      $endgroup$
      – Carl Witthoft
      7 hours ago




      $begingroup$
      Or even that the mountain ranges run East-West and are much wider to the East, essentially "trapping" wind & clouds flowing to the West.
      $endgroup$
      – Carl Witthoft
      7 hours ago












      $begingroup$
      @CarlWitthoft Yeah that works but I'm not sure if it meets the "completely surrounded" bit of the question because I can't quite visualise what you mean by that.
      $endgroup$
      – Ash
      7 hours ago




      $begingroup$
      @CarlWitthoft Yeah that works but I'm not sure if it meets the "completely surrounded" bit of the question because I can't quite visualise what you mean by that.
      $endgroup$
      – Ash
      7 hours ago












      $begingroup$
      +1 about the water, but rocky precipitates are not particulary fertile, especially if all the fine particles get washed out with the underground river leaving the valley.
      $endgroup$
      – Karl
      7 hours ago




      $begingroup$
      +1 about the water, but rocky precipitates are not particulary fertile, especially if all the fine particles get washed out with the underground river leaving the valley.
      $endgroup$
      – Karl
      7 hours ago












      $begingroup$
      @Karl What underground river? The valley may drain to ground water and it may only have evaporation as an outlet but neither of these necessarily allow for any transportation of sediment, no matter how fine, out of the system.
      $endgroup$
      – Ash
      7 hours ago




      $begingroup$
      @Karl What underground river? The valley may drain to ground water and it may only have evaporation as an outlet but neither of these necessarily allow for any transportation of sediment, no matter how fine, out of the system.
      $endgroup$
      – Ash
      7 hours ago












      $begingroup$
      Ground water == underground river. No outflow at all == regular flooding when the snow melts.
      $endgroup$
      – Karl
      6 hours ago




      $begingroup$
      Ground water == underground river. No outflow at all == regular flooding when the snow melts.
      $endgroup$
      – Karl
      6 hours ago











      3












      $begingroup$

      I give you Kelowna, British Columbia, and the Okanagan Valley. Surrounded by mountains, it's a humid continental climate with no shortage of vegetation and is certainly no desert.



      For a larger example, the entire interior of British Columbia: between the Coast Range and the Rockies, the Interior consists of topographically lower plateaus and valleys with assorted climates, none of them desert-like.






      share|improve this answer









      $endgroup$

















        3












        $begingroup$

        I give you Kelowna, British Columbia, and the Okanagan Valley. Surrounded by mountains, it's a humid continental climate with no shortage of vegetation and is certainly no desert.



        For a larger example, the entire interior of British Columbia: between the Coast Range and the Rockies, the Interior consists of topographically lower plateaus and valleys with assorted climates, none of them desert-like.






        share|improve this answer









        $endgroup$















          3












          3








          3





          $begingroup$

          I give you Kelowna, British Columbia, and the Okanagan Valley. Surrounded by mountains, it's a humid continental climate with no shortage of vegetation and is certainly no desert.



          For a larger example, the entire interior of British Columbia: between the Coast Range and the Rockies, the Interior consists of topographically lower plateaus and valleys with assorted climates, none of them desert-like.






          share|improve this answer









          $endgroup$



          I give you Kelowna, British Columbia, and the Okanagan Valley. Surrounded by mountains, it's a humid continental climate with no shortage of vegetation and is certainly no desert.



          For a larger example, the entire interior of British Columbia: between the Coast Range and the Rockies, the Interior consists of topographically lower plateaus and valleys with assorted climates, none of them desert-like.







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered 6 hours ago









          Keith MorrisonKeith Morrison

          8,4131 gold badge16 silver badges32 bronze badges




          8,4131 gold badge16 silver badges32 bronze badges





















              0












              $begingroup$

              There are a number of options.



              Glaciers



              There are glacier vallies up in the mountains and ithe ice flows provide water.




              Aquifier surfaces



              There is a water rich layer of rock, an underground river providing water to the valley for the ocean side.






              share|improve this answer









              $endgroup$

















                0












                $begingroup$

                There are a number of options.



                Glaciers



                There are glacier vallies up in the mountains and ithe ice flows provide water.




                Aquifier surfaces



                There is a water rich layer of rock, an underground river providing water to the valley for the ocean side.






                share|improve this answer









                $endgroup$















                  0












                  0








                  0





                  $begingroup$

                  There are a number of options.



                  Glaciers



                  There are glacier vallies up in the mountains and ithe ice flows provide water.




                  Aquifier surfaces



                  There is a water rich layer of rock, an underground river providing water to the valley for the ocean side.






                  share|improve this answer









                  $endgroup$



                  There are a number of options.



                  Glaciers



                  There are glacier vallies up in the mountains and ithe ice flows provide water.




                  Aquifier surfaces



                  There is a water rich layer of rock, an underground river providing water to the valley for the ocean side.







                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered 9 hours ago









                  TheDyingOfLightTheDyingOfLight

                  2,2564 silver badges21 bronze badges




                  2,2564 silver badges21 bronze badges



























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