Utah's basin and range deserts are cold and semi-arid. They receive rain and snow in the winter but face heat and drought during summer months. Utah's southern deserts feature canyons and breathtaking natural bridges. Hikers, backpackers, campers and rock climbers frequent Utah's southern desert region for its ample recreational opportunities.
The Great Basin is one of North America's four deserts and the only one with a cold climate. The Great Basin encompasses most of Nevada and western Utah. Snow is responsible for the desert's moisture. Less than 10 inches of precipitation falls per year in the Great Basin. The region's location, east of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, places it within a rain shadow. Clouds lose moisture before passing over the mountain range leaving the Great Basin semi-arid. The area is bordered on the west by the Wasatch Mountains and the High Plateaus.
Formed from residue and mineral deposits left by the ancient and drained Lake Bonneville, the Great Salt Lake Desert impeded western progress for generations. Wagon trains headed for the Californian gold rush faced severe hardships while crossing through the salt-encrusted area southwest of the Great Salt Lake. Rain falls in May, August and October. In some areas salt deposits are so thick that plants cannot grow. Soil throughout the area is alkaline and has high salinity levels, making plant life difficult but not impossible.
The Mojave Desert stretches from Southern California, through Nevada and into Utah's southeast corner. The area is considered a high desert, with elevations 5,000 feet above sea level. This high elevation leads to hot summers, cold winters and extreme temperature shifts, all of which contribute to erosion. Wind and temperature extremes shaped the desert's bare rock into natural arches. Zion National Park and Arches National Park are located in this region.
Cacti are the most widely recognized desert plants, but there are others, especially in high desert regions. Woody perennials like sage and scrub grow throughout the Great Basin. Plants are often spaced far from one another, indicating expansive root systems. Micro-climates and oases shelter wildflowers. Plants like allium (wild onion) and sego lily grow from bulbs. They go dormant seasonally but always have their own food and water supply. Farther south, in the Mojave region, hanging gardens are found growing in and on canyon ledges and cracks. These surprising gardens are examples of plant adaptability to the environment's micro-climates.
