The Great Basin Is Not in California—It's Mostly Nevada & Utah
Correction: The **Great Basin** (hydrographic definition) is **not in California**. It occupies:
- ~85% of Nevada
- ~35% of Utah (western half)
- Parts of Oregon, Idaho, California, Wyoming (small fractions each)
California's Slice
Only the **eastern Sierra escarpment** and **northern Mojave fringe** fall in the Basin:
- Owens Valley** (Owens River → Owens Lake – now dry)
- Mono Basin** (Mono Lake)
- Death Valley** (northern part – Amargosa River)
- Surprise Valley** (NE corner, Warner Mountains)
**Total: <5% of California’s area.**
Why the Confusion?
- **Death Valley NP** straddles CA/NV – people assume "Basin = Death Valley = California."
- **Mono Lake** is iconic CA but hydrologically Great Basin.
- **Basin & Range Province** (geologic) *does* cover much of SE California—different definition.
Tribal Territories ≠ State Lines
- Paiute / Shoshone / Washoe territories **cross** CA/NV/OR/ID/UT borders.
- **California tribes** (Yokuts, Miwok, Maidu) live **west of the Sierra crest**—*outside* the Great Basin.
So: **No "California Great Basin tribes."** The Basin’s Indigenous peoples are **Nevada/Utah-centered**, with extensions into neighboring states—not California-centered.
Wanderlust World