Where is the mojave desert

Death Valley is definitely the most important park in the Mojave Desert, but also one of the most inhospitable and fascinating areas in the United States, and has almost extraterrestrial landscapes. If you want to visit Death Valley , you have to be very mindful of the climate of the area. For this reason, I invite you to read our in-depth guide to the climate of Death Valley. Its strength lies in the simplicity of visiting it by car , which makes it an ideal scenic interlude between one point and another during your trip to California.

If you are interested in discovering all the options for visiting this park, you can read our article dedicated entirely to Joshua Tree National Park. If you decide to visit Lake Mead , you will find yourself observing the largest artificial lake in the United States, which was created by the construction of the Hoover Dam along the Colorado River. The lake area has many access areas nine located on the shore both in Arizona and in Nevada. The visitor center is located in Boulder City also very close to the Hoover Dam.

Given the size of the area, there are countless activities that can be done, including camping, fishing, swimming, and rowing. You can find all the tours and activities by clicking on the link below. Discover all the activities to do at Lake Mead. The Trona Pinnacles can be up to 43 meters in height! A playa is a dried out lake bed. Playas don't contain very much vegetation and are made up of lots of clay and silt. The ground of a playa often appears scaly and cracked because of the heat and lack of water.

They are often found in the lowest and flatest area of a desert basin. Occasionally, during wet periods or near water sources, there will be a little bit of water on the surface of the playa. Playas are a very useful way to discover the history of an area, because the features and characteristics can reveal information about a regions past and present climates.

The Mojave Desert can have a wide range of temperatures throughout the day. Also, there are relatively distinct seasons. The Mojave Desert recieves very little precipitation each year—approximately mm annually. The precipitation is usually in the form of rain; however, there is the rare possibility of snow. Storms occur throughout the year, but autumn is said to be the most pleasant season.

Winter and spring storms come from the Pacific, while the low humidity summer results in storms that draw moisture from the Gulf of Mexico. The Mojave region is bordered by lots of mountains, which create a "rain shadow". Since the Majove Desert is a rain shadow desert, many of its storms come with lots of clouds and wind but less precipitation. Although the Mojave region is a desert and experiences very little precipitation—making it hard for organisms to sustain life—nearly two thousand plant species can be found in the Mojave desert.

Most interestingly, about a quarter of these plants are specific to the Mojave Desert alone. The Joshua Tree for example cannot be found anywhere but the Mojave Desert.

Species that only live in one location on Earth are known as "endemic" species. At its lowest point, Badwater Basin measures feet 85 m below sea level. The Mojave Desert has a typical mountain-and-basin topography with sparse vegetation. Sand and gravel basins drain into central salt flats from which borax, potash and salt are extracted.

Silver, tungsten, gold and iron deposits are also present in the Mojave Desert. Elevations are generally between three and six thousand feet, although Death Valley National Park includes both 11,foot Telescope Peak and the lowest point in the United States, feet below sea level, at Badwater Basin.

Temperatures are a function of both latitude and altitude. As a result, its average temperatures are lower than those of the Sonoran Desert. Occasional catclaws grow along arroyos. Dismiss View all alerts. Desert solitude in Southern California Singing sand dunes, cinder cone volcanoes, a large Joshua tree forest, and carpets of spring wildflowers are all found within this 1. Plan Your Trip to Mojave. Programs and Events. Hunting in Mojave National Preserve. Mojave Road. Off-pavement safety tips.