Overview
The mountains hold back moisture from the ocean - Inspiration Point
The greater Mojave Desert is bounded by the
Sierra Nevada,
San Gabriel, and
San Bernardino
mountains to the west. These mountain ranges block
the westerly winds and moisture created by the
Pacific Ocean, in turn creating a hot and arid desert
environment on the eastern side. The Mojave Desert
is bordered on the east by the Colorado Plateau. The
northern boundary of the Mojave blends with the
Great Basin Desert, while the southern boundaries
merge with the Sonoran Desert.
The Mojave Desert exists in a rain shadow created by the Transverse Ranges and the Sierra Nevada
Rainfall varies with elevation; approximately 4
inches per year near
Baker,
and up to 9 inches per
year in the higher elevations. Summer months are
characterized by a brief monsoon; however, the
majority of the rainfall occurs in late winter, with
February typically being the wettest month.
Average
high temperatures are 90 degrees in the summer
months and can exceed 105 degrees. During the
winter months, temperatures can drop below
freezing, occasionally bringing snow to the higher
elevations.
Snow can occur in the higher elevations - Phelan, Ca.
adapted from;
MINING HISTORY OF
MOJAVE NATIONAL PRESERVE
Heidi Koenig, M.A., RPA
Anthropological Studies Center
Sonoma State University
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The "Classic American Desert"
... the Mojave does not really fit the classic image of ...Life at the Extremes
The Mojave Desert, the driest and smallest of the ...Adaptations
The Mojave Desert is an environment of extreme heat, ...Human History
... results show that Paleoindians may have reached this area as ...Rising to the Occasion
As more people seek escape from the congestion of nearby ...Management Challenges
But because ecosystems do not recognize such boundaries, ...Water
Groundwater and the Mojave and Colorado Rivers are the ...Off-Highway Vehicles
... riding motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, dune buggies, and ...Fire and Weeds
... not common in the Mojave Desert, and when they did occur, ...source - BLM
