Great Basin Desert
The Great Basin Desert is an arid, high-elevation basin and rangeland spanning much of Nevada and parts of Utah__, characterized by sagebrush and basin-floor salt flats.
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Geography
| Continent | North America |
|---|---|
| Region | Great Basin |
| Subregion | Intermountain West |
| Country | United States |
| State | NevadaUtah |
| County | Washoe CountyEureka CountyWhite Pine CountyElko CountyNavajo CountyMohave County |
| Timezone | AmericaDenver |
| Latitude | 40 |
| Longitude | -116 |
| Maps |
7:13 PM LOCAL TIMEThe Great Basin Desert is a vast, high-elevation region covering approximately 200,000 square kilometers across northern Nevada, western Utah, and parts of adjoining states. It is defined by the basin-and-range topography—intermittent mountain ranges separated by broad, arid basins—and is the largest endorheic (internal-draining) area in North America, meaning most water that falls here does not flow to the sea. Expect **stark sagebrush landscape**, **salt flats**, and **isolated mountain peaks**; ecosystems and weather vary significantly with elevation from around 1,200 meters on the basin floors to over 3,000 meters in the peaks. Major features include Lake Lahontan remnants, the Bonneville Basin, and historic routes like the Winning Route and U.S. Route 50__. Visitors come for long-distance drives, scenic hikes, wildlife viewing, and to experience a landscape shaped as much by dry climate as by geothermal and volcanic activity.
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