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Mojave National Preserve - Nature and ScienceMojave National Preserve"s vast expanse of desert lands include elements of three of the four major North American Deserts: the Mojave, Great Basin, and Sonoran. Additionally, changes in elevation and soil type, combined with dozens of seeps and springs, many in sheltered canyons, create a wide range of microhabitats that support a rich diversity of plants and animals. Some species are only found in this area. Notable plant assemblages include one of the largest and most dense Joshua tree forests, cactus gardens, and relect plant communities of white fir and chaparral. The Preserve"s unique ecology is attributed to its remarkable geology. The desert is a land of old mountain ranges, sand dunes, great mesas and volcanic features such as cinder cones, domes, and lava flows; these features contribute to the remarkable beauty of the landscape. The most ancient rocks in the preserve, found in the Clark Mountains, are 2.5 billion years old. Local temperatures vary greatly by elevation, which ranges from 880 feet to 7,492 feet. Seasonal weather changes are striking. Summer temperatures average 90 degrees with highs exceeding 105 degrees regularly. It is not unusual to see snow blanketing the higher elevations in the winter. Precipitation also varies greatly across the Preserve; mountain areas average nearly 9 inches per year, while the average near Baker is only 3.37 inches. At least 25 percent of precipitation falls in localized summer monsoon thunderstorms. |
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Mojave National Preserve - Nature and Science
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