Great Basin
Great Basin is a high-desert region spanning multiple states in the western USA, characterized by salt flats, sagebrush steppe, and alpine basins. It forms a watershed divide and offers stark landscapes ranging from Death Valley to High Sierra highlands.
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Geography
| Continent | North America |
|---|---|
| Region | Great Basin |
| Subregion | Intermountain West |
| Country | United States |
| State | NevadaUtahOregonCaliforniaIdahoNevadaHampshireMontanaWyomingBasinGreat Basin |
| Timezone | AmericaLos Angeles |
| Latitude | 39 |
| Longitude | -116 |
| Maps |
11:55 AM LOCAL TIMEThe Great Basin is a vast endorheic region in the western United States, covering approximately 440,000 square kilometers. It is characterized by internal drainage—water collected here generally does not reach the ocean—and features a mix of low-lying salt flats and high mountain basins. Key subregions include the Walker Lane—a zone of active faulting and seismicity—and basins such as Eureka and Pahrump. The region is home to iconic landscapes: salt flats like those near Seeley Lake, expansive sagebrush steppe, and alpine reaches above 3,000 meters in the High Sierra and Wasatch ranges. Climate varies from hot, arid summers to cold, snowy winters at higher elevations, supporting activities from desert hiking and night sky viewing to mountain skiing and wildlife watching. Major highways and rail lines cross the basin; gateways to national parks and wilderness areas—such as Great Basin National Park and parts of the Humboldt-Toiyabe and Uinta ranges—provide routes for multi-day overland travel and backcountry exploration.
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