Mojave Desert

When most Americans think of the word “desert” they might envision camels and sand dunes. But the desert they are probably most familiar with is the Mojave, even if they don’t recognize it as such.

The Mojave is one of the most filmed and photographed arid landscapes on the planet. Situated between the fantasy playground of Las Vegas in neighboring Nevada and “La-La Land” (Los Angeles) , this desert has had a starring role in a multitude of feature films. The Mojave has also appeared in countless TV shows, advertisements and books as well.

Like California itself, the Mojave is a paradox. It is at once both near and far. Ringed by civilization on 3 sides, it is penetrated by a network of roads and human settlements. But also hidden within its numerous mountains and canyons are some of the most remote and seldom seen wonders in the state.

Open Range

Though there is not much forage per acre in the Mojave, there are a lot of acres. The Mojave National Preserve, though part of the National Park system, is managed differently. Tradition activities such as mining, ranching and hunting are still allowed here under certain conditions.

Lonely Country

The desert's wide open spaces bring freedom seekers, dreamers and those looking to start over. But as is so often the case, the harsh realities of life in this arid and remote land make it tough to fulfill expectations. The Mojave is littered with prospects, homesteads and businesses that were built with high hopes and little else.

Sunrise in the Mojave

The crisp dry air of the Mojave in winter make for fantastic light shows at dawn and dusk.

Military

The U.S. military has a large footprint in the Mojave. There are a half-dozen Army, Navy and Marine Corp. installations in the region. If you come across a sign like this in your explorations, heed its warning,

Owlshead Mountains

Hard packed sediments of the dry lakebed, or playa, in the Owlshead Mountains. Due to the dearth of salts on the surface, this playa recharges the groundwater table below when the infrequent rains do fall.

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