Mojave Desert

Friday, June 29, 2012

Mojave Desert

The Mojave Desert occupies a significant portion of southeastern California and smaller parts of central California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah and northwestern Arizona, in the United States. Named after the Mohave tribe of Native Americans, it displays typical basin and range topography.

The Mojave Desert receives less than 13 in (330 mm) of rain a year and is generally between 2,000 and 5,000 feet (610 and 1,500 m) in elevation. It contains the lowest and hottest place in North America: Death Valley at 282 feet below sea level; where the temperature often surpasses 120 °F (49 °C) in late July and early August. The Mojave Desert has not historically supported a fire regime because of low fuel loads and connectivity.

Several large cities can be found in the Mojave Desert, including Lancaster, California and Victorville, California, with the largest being Las Vegas.