Mojave Desert

Mojave Desert
a desert in S California: part of the Great Basin. ab. 15,000 sq. mi. (38,850 sq. km).

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Arid region, southeastern California, U.S. Occupying more than 25,000 sq mi (65,000 sq km), it extends from the Sierra Nevada to the Colorado Plateau and merges with the Great Basin Desert to the north and the Sonoran Desert to the south and southeast.

Together with the Sonoran, Great Basin, and Chihuahuan deserts it forms the North American Desert. The Mojave Desert receives an average annual rainfall of 5 in. (13 cm). It is the location of Joshua Tree National Park.

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arid region of southeastern California and portions of Nevada, Arizona, and Utah, U.S. It was named for the Mojave people. The Mojave Desert occupies more than 25,000 square miles (65,000 square km) and joins the Sonoran (Sonoran Desert), Great Basin, and Chihuahuan deserts in forming the North American Desert. The Mojave extends from the Sierra Nevada range to the Colorado Plateau and merges with the Great Basin to the north and the Sonoran Desert to the south and southeast. It abuts the San Gabriel (San Gabriel Mountains) and San Bernardino (San Bernardino Mountains) mountains in the southwest. Its desert climate is characterized by extreme variation in daily temperature, with frequent winter frosts, and an average annual precipitation of 2 to 6 inches (50 to 150 mm). Near the undefined Great Basin–Mojave border lies Death Valley (now a national park), the lowest point in North America. The Mojave has a typical mountain-and-basin topography, and its sparse vegetation includes creosote bush (Larrea tridentata), Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia), burroweed (Isocoma tenuisecta), and occasional cacti (mostly species of Cholla). Sand and gravel basins drain to central salt flats from which borax, potash, and salt are extracted. There are also economically important silver, tungsten, gold, and iron deposits.

 The intermittent Mojave River flows predominantly underground to Soda Lake. The Colorado River and Lake Mead (Mead, Lake) are situated near the eastern edge of the desert. Cattle grazing is common in the northern portion of the Mojave, while the southwestern part, adjacent to Los Angeles, has undergone urban and recreational development. Several U.S. military installations and Joshua Tree National Park are located there. Las Vegas, Nevada, and Lancaster, Victorville, Mojave, and Barstow, California, are the chief towns.
 

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Mojave Desert — desert in SE Calif.: c. 15,000 sq mi (38,850 sq km) …   English World dictionary

  • Mojave Desert — For the indigenous American tribe, see Mohave people. For other uses, see Mohave (disambiguation). Coordinates: 35°0.5′N 115°28.5′W / 35.0083°N 115.475°W …   Wikipedia

  • Mojave Desert — Mo|ja|ve Des|ert the Mojave Desert also the Mohave Desert a large desert in southern California. ↑Death Valley, the lowest point in the US, is found in the Mojave Desert …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Mojave Desert — Sp Mohãvių dykumà Ap Mojave Desert L JAV (Kalifornija) …   Pasaulio vietovardžiai. Internetinė duomenų bazė

  • Mojave Desert — noun a desert area in southern California and western Arizona • Syn: ↑Mojave, ↑Mohave, ↑Mohave Desert • Instance Hypernyms: ↑desert • Part Holonyms: ↑California, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • Mojave Desert — or Mohave Desert geographical name desert S California SE of S end of the Sierra Nevada …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Mojave Desert — Mo•ja′ve or Mohave Desert [[t]moʊˈhɑ vi[/t]] n. geg a desert in S California: part of the Great Basin. ab. 15,000 sq. mi. (38,850 sq. km) …   From formal English to slang

  • Mojave Desert — /moʊˌhavi ˈdɛzət/ (say moh.hahvee dezuht) noun a desert in southern California; part of the Great Basin. About 38 850 km2. Also, Mohave Desert …  

  • Mojave Desert —  but Mohave for the Native American tribe and mountains in Arizona …   Bryson’s dictionary for writers and editors

  • Mojave Desert — arid reg. S California; ab. 15,000 sq. mi …   Webster's Gazetteer

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