The Mojave Desert covers 47,877 square miles across southeastern California and into southern Nevada, southwestern Utah, and northwestern Arizona. Named after the Mojave Native American tribe, it lies between the San Andreas and Garlock faults and the Tehachapi, San Gabriel, and San Bernardino mountain ranges. Though known for receiving less than 13 inches of rainfall each year and for extreme temperatures, it is estimated to support more than 1,700 plant species. Its landmarks include Charleston Peak, the highest point at 11,918 feet, and Badwater Basin in Death Valley, the lowest point at 282 feet below sea level. Botanical landmarks include the Joshua tree forest of Cima Dome and Shadow Valley, the largest and most densely populated area of Joshua trees in the world. The desert is home to the endangered desert tortoise, with 350,000 acres of critical habitat, and about 700,000 acres are designated wilderness areas. Evidence of human activity may date back 12,000 years, and archaeological finds indicate that trade and travel routes, ranching, farming, and mining were part of life there. Numerous ghost towns remain from the 19th century, including Calico Ghost Town, a mining town from the 1880s that produced more than $20 million in silver ore. The Kelso Train Depot, built in 1924, marked the first major railroad crossing of the desert and reflects the heyday of rail travel. Located roughly halfway between Las Vegas and Joshua Tree National Park, the desert is bounded on the north and south by the modern construction of Interstate 15 and Interstate 40. It has two distinct seasons, with winter valley temperatures falling to 20 degrees Fahrenheit and below 0 degrees at higher elevations, while summer temperatures can rise above 120 degrees Fahrenheit, with thunderstorms and monsoon rains drawn from the Gulf of Mexico.
