The San Andreas Fault traverses the Valley 's east side . Because of this fault , the Valley has many hot springs . The Santa Rosa Mountains to the West are part of the Elsinore Fault Zone . The results of a prehistoric sturzstrom can be seen in Martinez Canyon . The Painted Canyons of Mecca feature smaller faults as well as Precambrian , Tertiary and Quaternary rock formations , unconformities , badlands and desert landforms . Seismic activity is what triggers earthquakes , a natural , but occasionally destructive phenomena in the Coachella Valley . Fault lines cause hot water springs or geysers to rise from the ground . These natural water sources made habitation and development possible in the otherwise inhospitable desert environment of the Coachella Valley . Major earthquakes have affected the Coachella Valley . For instance , the 1992 Landers earthquake caused some damage in the valley . An earthquake of local origin which caused considerable damage was the 1986 North Palm Springs earthquake , which registered at a magnitude of 6.0 , injuring 29 people and destroying 51 homes
1986 North Palm Springs earthquake
1986 North Palm Springs earthquake
Coachella Valley